Georgia

There have been countless attempts and arguments over the years, but Georgia has remained unable to legalize sports betting in any capacity. A push for legalization doesn’t seem to be slowing down, so there, of course, is always a chance it will happen over the coming years.

Suppose you’re a Georgia resident who caught the gambling bug. In that case, we’re sorry to inform you that the only thing available in the state is daily fantasy sports apps, even though they are unregulated. The state came close to legalizing DFS apps in 2017, but the Senate did not vote after the House passed it.

Daily fantasy products were a topic of debate once again during the 2024 legislative sessions in the state, but for now, nothing seems to be coming from it. Some of the apps that are operating in the state include PrizePicks, Underdog, and Betr Picks.

While some states that don’t have legal sports betting at least allow horse racing, that is not the case in the Peach State, as no racetracks or racebook apps are offered in GA.

Online sports betting in The Peach State

It seems that each year, Georgia has gotten closer and closer to completing the legalization of sports betting. Unfortunately, coming close is not enough to make something legal regarding bills, laws, and amendments.

Advocates of sports betting in GA have tried to legalize it in several ways, including through a vote or strictly through the legislative process, but both methods have hit roadblocks. Most states still in the process of legalizing sports betting have encountered problems with the local tribes that operate gambling in the state, but that is not an issue in GA.

In 2023 alone, the state introduced three sports betting bills, all of which would have legalized mobile sports betting. After gaining considerable momentum, SB 57, HB 380, and SR 140 died during legislative sessions on March 6, 2023. The Senate voted against SB 57 and SR 140, while HB 380 did not pass the House.

Since no casinos or racetracks exist in GA, the state has an open market that is appealing to brand-name operators. This is a big reason why the Entain Foundation, part owner of BetMGM, decided to meet with state legislators to explain the benefits the state would receive if they legalized sports betting.

Most recently, in 2024, neither SR 579 nor SB 386 was voted on by the House on the last day of the yearly legislative session. One of the biggest reasons was lawmakers' inability to agree on how they would spend the taxes made from sports betting. This means Georgia residents will need to wait at least another year.

The role of Georgia’s mega-churches in the anti-gambling lobby – Why is betting still banned?

Georgia is still one of the few states without legalized casinos or sports betting, and although political debates over gambling persist, one powerful force consistently opposes it—Georgia’s mega-churches. 

Home to some of the largest and most influential religious institutions in the country, Georgia’s faith-based organizations wield considerable political influence, especially on social issues like gambling. Many pastors and church leaders contend that gambling leads to addiction, financial ruin, and moral conundrums, rendering it incompatible with their values.

Faith-based lobbying groups have been actively opposing gambling expansion, rallying their followers to urge lawmakers to reject pro-gambling bills. Some of Georgia’s largest churches have even worked alongside conservative lawmakers to halt casino proposals, contending that gambling revenue carries a moral price. 

Despite strong economic arguments in favor of legalized betting—such as increased tax revenue and job creation—religious opposition remains one of the biggest hurdles to gambling expansion in Georgia. As long as the state’s mega-churches maintain their power, the idea of legal casinos in Georgia may continue to be a pipe dream.

Sports betting & gambling legislation in GA

While sports betting has been a consistent topic in legislative sessions in GA since 2020, obstacles remain for any legislator backing a bill. A big problem in legalizing everything is in GA; voters must approve changes like this to make it a law.

The earliest change in GA could happen is early 2025. Still, it is important to remember that even when a bill like this is passed, it takes time for the regulators of that bill, in this case, the Georgia Lottery, to set up licenses and rules for operators to follow.

The lottery remains one of the lone gambling-like markets offered in the Peach State. Other markets, like online casinos and poker, remain on the back burner as state legislators try to establish sports betting.

Fountains, Fried Chicken, or the Battery: A New Kind of Braves Prop Bet

When Braves players launch moonshots at Truist Park, fans don't just cheer; they watch to see where the ball will land. Now, the question is, what if fans could bet on where the next longball will land? A Braves home run distance prop would allow fans to wager on the landing zone of the next absurdly long dinger: the Battery plaza, the outfield fountain, or even the legendary fried chicken stand.

Not only does this add an extra layer of excitement, but it could spark new fan traditions, like free chicken giveaways when balls land in the food court. Atlanta’s offense is known for power, with players like Marcell Ozuna and Austin Riley. This micro-bet format could thrive during nationally televised games, drawing in casual bettors and superfans alike. While the home runs will be there, the biggest hurdle will be getting Georgia to pass a sports betting bill.

Wagering on the holidays: Coca-Cola light shows as a prop bet market

Each holiday season, Atlanta’s iconic Coca-Cola building lights up with jaw-dropping displays that draw crowds from all over the country. But could these festive light shows evolve into a prop betting market? The premise would simply entail wagering on whether the lights will glow red, green, or silver on opening night and could even include other niche markets.

While Georgia hasn’t legalized sports betting yet, novelty wagers like this could offer a fun, low-stakes way to engage locals and tourists in seasonal events while giving the state a nice headstart on additional sports betting revenue once a bill is passed. If future legislation allows for prop-style betting, the Coca-Cola holiday light show could easily become a local fan-favorite novelty market. With millions passing by or following on social media, even a small-scale market like this could generate enough buzz that big-name regulated sportsbooks would be interested in posting a niche market like this.

Most recent updates from the GA sports betting scene

• April 14, 2025: The Atlanta Hawks have made the NBA Play-In Tournament and will play the Orlando Magic in their first game. The Hawks are (-330) to reach the playoffs, and if they beat Orlando, they will play Boston in the first round.

• March 17, 2025: After being named a nine-seed in the NCAA Tournament, the Georgia Bulldogs will play Gonzaga in the Round of 64. Georgia is (+1000) to reach the Sweet 16.

• March 10, 2025: The Georgia Bulldogs are (+11,000) to win a loaded SEC Conference Tournament.

• February 24, 2025: In the midst of a four-game losing streak and with four games remaining, the Georgia Bulldogs are (+220) to make the NCAA Tournament.

• February 14, 2025: A new bill in Georgia’s legislature, led by Sen. Brandon Beach, aims to legalize sports betting and casinos through a public vote. The plan includes a 20% tax on sports betting and safeguards for responsible gambling.

• February 6, 2025: The Atlanta Hawks have traded De'Andre Hunter to the Cavaliers for Caris Levert, Georges Niang, and draft picks. Hunter is (+185) to win Sixth Man of the Year.

• January 31, 2025: After a strong season last year, the Georgia Bulldogs will enter this college baseball season at (+400) to make the College World Series.

• January 21, 2025: With the 2024-25 college football season over, the Georgia Bulldogs have opened at (+550) to win the 2026 National Championship.

Fast-food faceoff: Betting on Georgia’s ultimate drive-thru champion

Georgia’s fast-food scene features two heavyweights: The Varsity and Chick-fil-A—both with a devoted following. But could this rivalry ignite a new trend in fast-food betting? Placing bets on which chain sells more chicken sandwiches on a college game day or which brand triumphs in a blind taste test showdown could create a new wave of novelty betting. 

Given Georgia’s love for both institutions, a betting market could flourish based on local pride, offering odds on a number of creative markets. While traditional sportsbooks may not yet embrace fast-food wagers, and since there are none active in the state, novelty betting platforms might see potential, similar to how they do for reality TV or pop culture events.

If legalized, fast-food gambling could elevate the debates over menu items into something more significant than bragging rights. In a state where food and football hold a special place in most residents' hearts, a bit of friendly wagering on the ultimate Georgia drive-thru champion might just emerge as the next big trend.

Ghost Sightings Guess Pools: A New Twist on Savannah Paranormal Tours

On any given night in Savannah, a city steeped in cobblestone charm and ghostly folklore, hundreds of visitors embark on eerie ghost tours through the Historic District. Instead of just being all scares, though, visitors should also be able to profit from their fright. Enter the concept of Savannah Ghost Tour Guess Pools, a novelty betting twist where tour-goers and spectators wager on which haunted house or site has the most “sightings” or EMF meter spikes during the evening’s tours.

Tour operators could partner with local sportsbooks to track real-time crowd feedback, paranormal data, or they could work with veteran ghost hunters to come up with a better strategy. The result? A uniquely immersive tourism-meets-betting experience that boosts Savannah businesses' income, drives nighttime traffic, and would be a nice novelty market to launch alongside sports betting once legislation is passed.

In-person sports betting sites and locations

Casinos, sportsbooks, and racetracks cannot be found anywhere in Georgia. While GA does have a state lottery, that is about as far as “gambling” goes in the Peach State, as residents don’t even have tribal casinos at their disposal.

Based on the bills that have been brought up in legislative sessions, if Georgia does legalize sports betting, in all likelihood, it would be online only, so retail sportsbooks may not even be a thing in Georgia if sports betting is made legal over time.

Sports betting in neighboring states

Tennessee’s decision to legalize sports betting has been one of Georgia’s biggest influences in their increased efforts to do the same. While it is taking GA longer than most would hope, at the very least, the state’s residents can make the short trip to Tennessee and North Carolina.

You can click on the surrounding states below to learn more about their specifics.

What’s next for GA betting apps?

With all of the momentum Georgia gained with sports betting bills in 2023, there should be optimism that mobile sports betting is not far away. Since most of the bills have mentioned strictly mobile betting, the state could open quite a few licenses, which would attract an influx of big sportsbooks looking to enter the state’s market.

Between the success and popularity of the pro sports teams in GA, popular sportsbooks like Caesars and FanDuel should have plenty of chances to enter the market through partnerships with those teams.

These sportsbooks will need to wait yet another year to join the market, though, as both SR 579 and SB 386 were not voted on during the 2024 legislative session.

Potential sports betting revenue impact on Georgia's economy

Until sports betting becomes legal in Georgia, we won't truly know how much the state can earn monthly from it. According to Senator Brandon Beach, who introduced new sports betting legislation in 2024, the state's betting revenue could total around $900 million per year from the legalization.

Of course, this is just speculation, but these numbers don't seem far-fetched at all. Ohio, the second-closest state to Georgia in terms of pure population, has already crossed the $1.8 billion mark in total betting revenue, filling the state's tax coffers with over $367 million. In 2024, Ohio's total yearly betting revenue was $904 million, which bodes well for Georgia's estimates if they can ever get a bill over the finish line.

Meanwhile, one neighboring state, North Carolina, averaged over $60 million in monthly betting revenue in 2024, which resulted in +$10 million of monthly tax income for the state. In addition, as of April 2025, Tennessee has racked up over $283 million in sports betting tax income since it decided to legalize such activity.

Flavor meets finance: Georgia’s peach contests as novelty betting gold

At Georgia’s flourishing farmers' markets, the peach is more than just a fruit; it’s a cultural icon. With the popularity of peaches and fruit in general in GA, imagine transforming peach season into a seasonal wagering event through “Which Peach Is the Juiciest?”, a tasting table where attendees place wagers on the blind taste-test results from local farm stands.

If even 0.1% of Georgia’s estimated $1.5+ billion annual sports betting handle stemmed from seasonal agri-tourism events like this, it could generate over $1.5 million in new wagers, along with tens of thousands in tax revenue. Merging fresh fruit with friendly betting could transform farmers' markets into higher foot trafficked events. While the revenue potential is a possibility, the state would, of course, first need to legalize sports betting and include novelty wagers in that legislation.