A Georgia Senate resolution aimed at putting the legalization of sports betting and casino gambling on the November ballot failed in committee on Thursday. The measure, which proposed taxing online sports betting and casinos at 20%, was rejected despite arguments that legalization could generate hundreds of millions in annual tax revenue for the state.
State Senator Carden Summers, who sponsored the resolution, had outlined a plan to distribute tax revenue evenly among Georgia’s 159 counties. He argued that the potential earnings, estimated at $110 million to $115 million per year, could support infrastructure and other local needs, particularly in rural communities.
“People have asked for the right to decide, and I’m adhering to the will of the people,” Summers said during the committee meeting. He pointed to polling data from the most recent Republican primary ballot, which indicated strong public interest in removing constitutional prohibitions on gambling.
“In 159 counties, 80% of the people voted in the Republican primary for question number six. They wanted the right to vote for removing the prohibition on gaming from the constitution in Georgia, which would allow casinos and sports betting, etc,” Summers said.
Despite these arguments, the committee overwhelmingly voted down the resolution. Opponents raised concerns about potential social consequences, including increased gambling addiction and associated mental health issues.
“You think about the mental health issues that are related to it. You think about the increase in addiction. You think about how up to a third of addicted gamblers are going to consider committing suicide,” said Griffin, a lobbyist who spoke against the measure. He cited data from gambling addiction support group GambleAware, which suggests that compulsive gamblers are six times more likely to have suicidal thoughts.
The debate over sports betting in Georgia has intensified, especially as data shows a growing interest in online wagering. John Pappas, senior advisor at Geocomply, who provided data to FOX 5, reported that during Super Bowl weekend, nearly 14,500 active accounts attempted to place bets online in Georgia despite the state’s prohibition. This figure marked a 75% increase compared to the previous year.
“We saw almost 14,500 active accounts in the State of Georgia. So these are people that could have been potential sports bettors. People who would have wanted to place a bet on a legal site, but couldn’t because they were in Georgia,” Pappas said.
State Representative Marcus Weidower and other lawmakers in the House are expected to introduce similar legislation later in the session. Some senators who opposed the resolution cited doubts about its viability in the House as their reason for voting against it.
Original article: https://www.yogonet.com/international/news/2025/03/04/96677-georgia-senate-committee-rejects-gambling-legalization-proposal-debate-continues
