A re-introduced bill that would amend Georgia’s State Constitution to allow for sports betting was passed by the state House yesterday (4 April), but failed to pass the Senate as the legislative session expired.
Senate Resolution 135 was first introduced in 2021, and was initially passed by the House Committee on Economic Development & Tourism.
It was re-introduced in 2022, and had to be passed by the House and the Senate in the current session.
While it passed the House, the legislative session ended before it could be passed by the Senate.
The bill was sponsored by Senator Jeff Mullis, Senator Bill Cowsert and Representative Rob Stephens.
The bill amends the Constitution by altering several paragraphs to include allowances for sports betting. This includes the creation of a gaming commission by the General Assembly, which would regulate and stipulate taxation for sports betting in the state.
Of all tax collected from sports betting, at least 50% would fund needs-based scholarships, grants and loans for state citizens to attend colleges in Georgia.
The bill would also see broadband services deployed throughout Georgia, with priority given to rural areas, to support the sports betting roll out.
As the bill was not passed, Georgia will have to wait until the next legislative session for legal sports betting.