The PGA Tour has called on Georgia legislators to approve sports betting, aligning with major professional sports franchises in Atlanta to advocate for legislation aimed at generating fresh tax revenue and enhancing fan interaction.

In less than a day after the Tour Championship concluded at East Lake, Scott Warfield, the PGA Tour’s head of gaming, addressed the state’s House Study Committee on Gaming to present his arguments.

“This initiative aims to extend engagement for our core fans with golf,” Warfield stated. “This leads to increased interaction with our content and closer attention to the tournaments.”

Georgia state legislators are currently evaluating proposals for sports betting and casino gaming as part of a larger discussion on the potential removal of the state income tax, which would necessitate alternative revenue streams. A comparable initiative in North Carolina brought in over $110 million in its inaugural year from licensing fees and gambling taxes.

Warfield emphasized that gambling could attract a younger audience to golf: “This draws in a demographic aged 35 to 44,” encouraging them to place a small wager during pivotal moments in tournaments to discover compelling narratives on the PGA Tour.

The Falcons, Braves, Hawks, and Atlanta United have all voiced their support for sports betting, but there remains substantial resistance from religious organizations.

“One could apply that same rationale to fentanyl, prostitution, or recreational marijuana,” expressed Mike Griffin from the Baptist Mission Board.

The committee plans to convene two additional times before finalizing recommendations to present to the General Assembly.