Georgia could follow North Carolina’s path to early sports betting success, with witnesses telling lawmakers this week that gambling expansion could generate over $100 million in annual tax revenue if voters approve it in 2026.
More than a dozen industry experts and policy representatives spoke at the House Study Committee on Gaming’s second hearing, held earlier this week. The panel, which will meet through December 1, is tasked with preparing gambling expansion recommendations for lawmakers after sports betting efforts stalled earlier this year. Unlike the committee’s July session, which focused heavily on casinos, this hearing featured a balance of testimony on both sports betting and resort-style casino development.
One of the biggest hurdles is the state constitution, which currently prohibits gambling. While some argue sports betting could be included under the state lottery, most believe a constitutional amendment is necessary—requiring two-thirds support in both legislative chambers and approval from Georgia voters.
Lawmakers have attempted to legalize sports betting for the past five legislative sessions, but progress has been slowed by constitutional questions and partisan clashes. In 2021, Democrats withdrew support after Republicans advanced a controversial voting rights bill. In 2023, when sports betting failed to advance before a crossover deadline, supporters tried attaching it to an unrelated bill naming an official state soap box derby.
Falling short in 2025 did not disrupt the legalization timeline, since voters wouldn’t see the measure on the ballot until November 2026. Legislation from this session carries over into next year, including Rep. Marcus Wiedower’s HB 686, which proposes 16 online sports betting licenses and a 24% tax rate. Wiedower also chairs the study committee guiding these discussions.
Is Georgia sports betting potential similar to North Carolina?
Former North Carolina Rep. Jason Saine opened testimony before Georgia’s House Study Committee on Gaming, projecting that sports betting could generate more than $100 million in tax revenue for education during its first year. For perspective, Georgia’s 2025 fiscal year budget totals $41.6 billion.
Saine, now a partner at The Southern Group lobbying firm, played a leading role in North Carolina’s sports betting legalization. The Tar Heel State brought in $116 million in its first year—far above the $64 million lawmakers had originally projected. With Georgia and North Carolina sharing similar populations of roughly 10.8 million, Saine said tax structure is key, noting North Carolina’s 18% rate.
“Quite frankly, we’ve been held up as an example for other states. We think we hit a sweet spot,” Saine said. “It’s a little high for my taste, but it’s what we went with to get buy-in.”
Jeremy Kudon, president of the Sports Betting Alliance—supported by Bet365, BetMGM, DraftKings, Fanatics, and FanDuel—echoed Saine’s optimism. He estimated Georgia could generate $154 million in tax revenue in its first year with a 17% tax rate, potentially growing to $222 million annually by year five.
Saine also outlined how North Carolina distributes its tax revenue, directing funds to gambling addiction treatment and prevention, amateur sports, the UNC system, and a major events fund.
“People will say the sky will fall, it will ruin Georgia,” Saine noted. “But we’re living proof they’re wrong. We haven’t seen a rise in problem gambling. We’ve dismantled the illegal market. And now, there’s a mechanism to fund real solutions.”
Polls show public support for Georgia sports betting
Kudon stressed the SBA is not asking legislators to legalise sports betting, but to allow Georgians to vote on it themselves. He then noted a University of Georgia and Metro Atlanta Chamber poll from December 2024 that found 63% of Georgians want legal sports betting.
Lindsay Slader, SVP of compliance at GeoComply, said during the last NFL season (5 September 2024 to 9 February 2025) that there were 4.4 million geolocation checks from 366,000 sportsbook accounts. That was a 66% increase compared to the previous year. She also highlighted Exit 1 on I-75 in Chattanooga, just over the Georgia state line in Tennessee, where there were 834,000 geolocation checks from 13,000 accounts.
During previous legislative efforts, Atlanta sports teams have come out in favour of legalising sports betting. During this week’s meeting, the PGA Tour also backed the efforts.
Scott Warfield, VP of gaming at the PGA Tour, said bettors attend more events and watch more tournaments. He also noted that legalising sports betting can help stop nefarious activities associated with the industry.
“Yes, there is a revenue benefit; yes, an engagement benefit,” Warfield said. “But it’s a way to better monitor what’s happening by being above board.”
Casino companies show interest in Georgia
Several major gaming companies testified before Georgia’s House Study Committee on Gaming, expressing strong interest in opening destination resort casinos in the state. Representatives included executives from Bally’s Corp., Boyd Gaming, Gaming and Leisure Properties, and Wynn Resorts.
Christopher Gordon, president of Wynn Resorts Development, confirmed the company is “seriously considering” Georgia. He explained the factors Wynn evaluates when entering new markets, including:
A rigorous regulatory framework
A fixed, limited number of licenses
Reasonable tax rates
A large potential customer base
Strong development sites
Gordon pointed to Massachusetts as an example Georgia could emulate. Wynn secured its Boston-area license through a competitive bidding process, ultimately opening the $2.6 billion Encore Boston Harbor on a former industrial riverfront in 2019. He noted a Georgia resort could employ as many as 4,000 people.
Rick Lackey, CEO of City Commercial Real Estate, emphasized the value of prime resort locations across Georgia. According to him, the state has at least 25 strong potential sites, and developers are prepared to invest as much as $3 billion to build world-class casinos.
