New Georgia Sports Betting Bill Hits Senate

• Sen. Billy Hickman (R-4) introduced a sports betting bill
• The bill will allow the Georgia Lottery to regulate online sports betting
• Hickman is also involved in a separate senate resolution to legalize sports betting and casino gaming

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A new Georgia online sports betting bill has hit the senate.

Sen. Billy Hickman (R-4) introduced SB 208, a bill to legalize online sports betting in Georgia and allow the lottery to regulate the new form of gaming.

He introduced the bill on Feb. 20 and the legislation has since been referred to the Georgia Senate regulated industries and utilities committee.

No Constitutional Amendment Necessary

Hickman’s bill seeks to legalize online sports betting in the Peach State without the need for a constitutional amendment.

Georgia lawmakers over the last several years have struggled with whether or not sports betting legalization requires a constitutional amendment. A constitutional amendment requires a heavier burden of passage, needing a two-thirds majority vote in both the Georgia Senate and House of Representatives, followed by voter approval in an election.

Hickman’s bill will legalize online sports betting through only a bill, which only requires a simple majority vote in both legislative chambers.

If approved, the legislation will allow the Georgia Lottery to regulate online sports betting. It would be taxed at a rate of 25% of adjusted sports betting revenues and operators would pay a $1.5 million annual fee for a license. An application fee of $100,000 is also required for an operator.

The Georgia Lottery will only be allowed to issue up to 18 online sports betting licenses. The following entities would be eligible for licenses in the state:

• Five for Georgia professional sports teams (Atlanta Hawks, Atlanta Falcons, Atlanta Braves, Atlanta United FC, and Atlanta Dream)
• One for Augusta National Golf Course
• One for the PGA Tour
• One for Atlanta Motor Speedway
• One for the Georgia Lottery Corporation
• Two for entities that have been approved in the state by the National Steeplechase Association

The remaining seven licenses will be awarded by the Georgia Lottery to online sports betting providers following a public procurement process.

It’s the second piece of sports betting legislation to be introduced in the state, and the first to do so without a constitutional amendment.

Senate Resolution Requires Voter Approval

Aside from his introduced piece of legislation, Hickman is also a co-author on SR 131,  which seeks to legalize sports betting and casino gaming in the state through a constitutional amendment.

Sen. Carden Summers (R-13), Hickman, Sen. Brandon Beach (R-21), and Sen. Lee Anderson (R-24) introduced the resolution earlier this month.

If approved in both the Georgia Senate and House of Representatives, state voters would have the final say on legalization. However, the resolution will require a two-thirds majority in both the House and Senate to be approved.

The legislation will allow for up to eight casino licenses in Georgia. Sports betting license details, such as the number of operators allows and the license costs, were not included in the first iteration of the resolution.

The legislation calls for the creation of a Georgia Gaming Commission to regulate and license casino and sports betting gaming in the state.

If approved by state voters, the resolution would need enacting legislation to work out the details of the state’s sports betting framework.