Published on: December 4, 2025, 09:31h.
Updated on: December 4, 2025, 09:47h.
- A committee in the Georgia Senate has proposed legalizing online sports betting
- The focus of the committee was to enhance tourism in Georgia
- Religious groups are likely to oppose any expansion of gambling
Could 2026 be the pivotal year for sports betting legislation in Georgia?
On Monday, the Senate Study Committee on Making Georgia the Premier Tourist Destination, established through Senate Resolution 323 during the 2025 legislative session, published its final report. This 28-page report contains recommendations from the five-member committee, which includes Sens. Drew Echols (R-Gainesville), Frank Ginn (R-Danielsville), Russ Goodman (R-Cogdell), Sonya Halpern (D-Atlanta), and Emanuel Jones (D-Decatur).
“The State of Georgia should legalize mobile sports betting,” one prominent suggestion aimed at boosting tourism’s fiscal impact.
Currently, 39 states plus Washington, DC, have legalized sports gambling, with 31 of these allowing online wagering.
The tourism study committee is one of several that explored gaming. The House Gaming Study Committee examined casinos and sports betting more extensively.
Timely Proposition for Sports Betting
Chair Echols revealed to The Center Square that the inclusion of online sports betting was a last-minute addition. Throughout its five sessions from August to November, the committee heard testimony regarding the potential tax revenue Georgia could generate by permitting online sportsbooks in its sports-centric environment.
During a meeting on November 18 at EchoPark Speedway, Nick Fernandez, the senior director of government affairs and public policy for the Metro Atlanta Chamber, discussed how North Carolina allocates funds from its online sports betting tax revenue to attract major events. Like Georgia, North Carolina lacks commercial casinos and has integrated mobile sportsbooks through partnerships with local professional sports teams and venues.
In North Carolina’s 2025 fiscal year ending in June, the state benefited from $116.58 million in tax revenue from online sports betting, of which 30% ($34.9 million) was designated for the North Carolina Major Events, Games & Attractions Fund.
Both Georgia and North Carolina have comparable populations, but the Peach State boasts a greater number of professional sports teams, including the NFL’s Falcons, MLB’s Braves, NBA’s Hawks, WNBA’s Dream, and MLS’s United.
Georgia also hosts significant annual events such as The Masters at Augusta National, the Atlanta Motor Speedway, and major events like the Super Bowl and NCAA March Madness. Additionally, Atlanta is slated to be a 2026 FIFA World Cup host city.
A poll conducted by the University of Georgia for the Metro Atlanta Chamber in January indicated that 63% of voters support allowing adult sports wagering.
Opposition to Gaming Expansion
Whenever gaming legislation emerges in Georgia, Mike Griffin, public affairs representative for the Georgia Baptist Mission Board, is likely to voice his objections. Griffin consistently opposes “sin industries.”
He argues that if Georgia seeks to improve tourism funding, options other than gambling should be explored.
“Legalizing immoral vices signifies we are prioritizing profit over ethics. It seems we have made the love of money the main consideration for legislative decisions,” Griffin asserted.
Georgia is part of the Bible Belt, with Pew Research identifying it as the 10th most religious state; 38% of its population considers themselves “highly religious.”