Sports Betting Laws in Georgia: Current Legal Status 2025

Sports betting is illegal in Georgia as of mid-2025. No licensed sportsbooks operate in the state. Multiple bills are active in the 2025-26 General Assembly session, but none has passed.

Quick Answer: Is Sports Betting Legal in Georgia?

No. Sports betting, both retail and online/mobile, is illegal in Georgia. There are no licensed sportsbooks, no regulatory framework, and no legal way for a Georgia resident to place a sports wager through a licensed domestic operator.

The prohibition stems from O.C.G.A. § 16-12-20, Georgia's general gambling statute, which defines gambling broadly enough to cover sports wagering. A constitutional barrier also exists: the Georgia Constitution, Article I, Section II, Paragraph VIII, requires voter approval via referendum before the state can authorize new forms of gambling. This two-layer obstacle has hindered legalization efforts.

Four bills are active in the 2025-26 General Assembly session. HB 686 has cleared a House committee, matching the furthest procedural advance any Georgia sports betting bill has achieved.

Daily fantasy sports (DFS) is a separate issue. DraftKings and FanDuel operate DFS contests in Georgia, arguing that fantasy sports involve skill rather than chance. Georgia has no statute explicitly authorizing DFS, so it occupies a legal gray area. DFS is not sports betting.

Offshore sportsbooks are accessible to Georgia residents via the internet, but they are unregulated, unlicensed, and carry legal risk for users under both state and federal law.

Georgia's Gambling Laws: The Statutory and Constitutional Framework

Legalization requires more than a simple majority vote in the legislature due to two interlocking layers of law.

The Statutory Prohibition

O.C.G.A. § 16-12-20 defines gambling as risking money or something of value on a game of chance or on a future contingent event not under the bettor's control. Sports betting fits this definition. O.C.G.A. § 16-12-20 through § 16-12-23 establish gambling offenses, from individual wagering to commercial gambling operations.

The Constitutional Barrier

Georgia Constitution, Article I, Section II, Paragraph VIII prohibits lotteries and gambling in the state except as authorized by the General Assembly through a constitutional amendment ratified by the voters. The Georgia Lottery was created in 1992 through this process: a constitutional amendment approved by Georgia voters as a narrow carve-out, not a general authorization of gambling.

This means the General Assembly cannot simply pass a statute legalizing sports betting. Any expansion of gambling beyond the lottery's existing scope arguably requires another constitutional amendment, which necessitates a two-thirds vote in both chambers of the General Assembly followed by a statewide referendum.

The Contested Workaround

Proponents of the lottery-administered model (see HB 910 below) argue that sports betting can be offered as a game administered by the Georgia Lottery Corporation without triggering a new constitutional amendment, because the Lottery already has constitutional authorization to operate games. Critics and constitutional scholars dispute this interpretation. No formal attorney general opinion has been published resolving the question. Consult the Georgia Attorney General's office for any formal guidance.

The Federal Picture

The federal barrier to state sports betting legalization was removed by the U.S. Supreme Court in Murphy v. National Collegiate Athletic Association, 584 U.S. 453 (2018), which struck down the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act. Since that ruling, over 30 states have legalized sports betting. Georgia has not acted in the seven years since.

2025-26 Legislative Session: Active Bills to Watch

Four bills are active in the current session. Here is the status of each as of the most recent OpenStates update (March 2026).

HB 686: Georgia Sports Betting Act

Status: House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (OpenStates, HB 686, 2025-26 Georgia General Assembly)

This bill is furthest along in the process. A "favorable report by substitute" means the committee approved the bill but replaced the original text with a revised version, typically to address member concerns or consolidate competing proposals. The substitute bill then moves to the full House floor for a vote. HB 686 has not yet received a House floor vote.

This procedural step matches the most advanced any Georgia sports betting bill has achieved. It proposes a standalone sports betting regulatory framework rather than routing administration through the Lottery.

HB 910: Georgia Lottery Game of Sports Betting Act

Status: House Second Readers (OpenStates, HB 910, 2025-26 Georgia General Assembly)

"Second Readers" means the bill has been introduced and read twice but has not yet been assigned to a committee for a hearing. HB 910 is the lottery-administered alternative. It would have the Georgia Lottery Corporation run sports betting, which proponents argue sidesteps the constitutional referendum requirement. That constitutional argument remains unresolved.

SB 208: Regulation and Taxation of Sports Betting

Status: Senate Read and Referred (OpenStates, SB 208, 2025-26 Georgia General Assembly)

SB 208 is a Senate companion bill. "Read and Referred" means it has been introduced and sent to a committee but has not received a committee hearing or vote. It proposes to authorize and tax sports betting through a regulatory framework.

SB 571: Age Verification for Online Gambling Content

Status: Senate Read and Referred (OpenStates, SB 571, 2025-26 Georgia General Assembly)

SB 571 is not a sports betting legalization bill. It would require age verification before users can access gambling content online. If any sports betting bill passes, SB 571's requirements would likely apply to licensed sportsbook apps and websites operating in Georgia.

The Two Competing Models

The central structural debate between HB 686 and HB 910 is who runs sports betting and whether a referendum is required:

• HB 686 model: A standalone regulatory body or designated agency licenses and oversees private operators. This approach almost certainly requires a constitutional amendment and voter referendum.
• HB 910 model: The Georgia Lottery Corporation administers sports betting as a lottery game. Proponents argue this avoids a referendum. The constitutional question is unresolved.

Session Calendar

The Georgia General Assembly operates on a 40-legislative-day session calendar. The crossover deadline, the date by which a bill must pass its chamber of origin to remain alive, is a critical chokepoint. Consult legis.ga.gov for the current session's crossover deadline, as the exact date varies by year and the 2026 date was not confirmed in the source material.

Pattern of Repeated Attempts

The 2023-24 session saw SB 172 tabled in the Senate, HB 380 withdrawn and recommitted in the House, and SB 386 receiving a favorable House committee report by substitute but failing to reach a floor vote (OpenStates, SB 386, 2023-24 Georgia General Assembly). HB 686's committee substitute report in 2025-26 matches SB 386's high-water mark from last session.

What Changed Recently: 2023-24 Session Failures and 2025 Momentum

2023-24: Close but No Floor Vote

The 2023-24 session was a significant attempt at legalization. SB 386 cleared a House committee with a favorable substitute report, a notable procedural step. However, it never reached the House floor. SB 172 was tabled in the Senate. HB 380 was withdrawn and recommitted before it could advance.

SR 394 (2023-24), which created a Senate Study Committee on the Creation of a Robust Wagering Ecosystem in the State of Georgia, signaled legislative leadership's interest in formal study. HB 1329 (2023-24), a fantasy contests regulation bill, also received a favorable committee substitute report, showing incremental appetite for gambling-adjacent legislation even when sports betting stalled.

2025-26: Broader Coalition, More Bills

The current session features simultaneous bills in both chambers across two competing models. This coordination suggests broader coalition building than in prior sessions. HB 686 clearing committee is the most advanced procedural achievement to date.

For tax revenue projections, the Georgia General Assembly fiscal note process attaches revenue estimates to bills as they advance. Consult legis.ga.gov for any published fiscal note on HB 686 or SB 208, as specific revenue figures were not confirmed in the source material and should not be cited without verification.

Comparing the Proposed Legalization Models: Key Differences

The bill texts for HB 686, HB 910, and SB 208 contain the definitive terms. Specific tax rates, license fee amounts, and operator eligibility criteria should be verified against the current enrolled bill text at legis.ga.gov, as substitute amendments can change figures after introduction.

This table uses "consult bill text" for numerical fields because substitute amendments routinely change tax rates and fee structures. Always pull the current enrolled text from legis.ga.gov before making any business or legal decision.

SB 571 interaction: If SB 571 passes alongside any sports betting bill, licensed sportsbook operators would be required to implement age verification systems before users can access gambling content online. This would add a compliance layer to app and website design for any operator seeking a Georgia license.

Penalties for Illegal Sports Betting in Georgia Today

Individual Bettors

Under O.C.G.A. § 16-12-21, gambling is a misdemeanor in Georgia. A misdemeanor conviction carries a maximum fine of $1,000 and up to 12 months in jail (O.C.G.A. § 17-10-3). Placing a sports bet through an offshore site technically exposes a Georgia resident to this charge.

While Georgia has not pursued criminal charges against individual bettors using offshore sites, the legal risk is not zero.

Operators

Running an illegal gambling operation is a felony under Georgia law, covered by O.C.G.A. § 16-12-22 (commercial gambling). An offshore operator actively targeting Georgia residents and accepting their wagers is exposed to felony commercial gambling charges under Georgia law, in addition to federal exposure.

Federal Layer: UIGEA

Under 31 U.S.C. § 5363, the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act prohibits businesses from knowingly accepting payments in connection with unlawful internet gambling. This statute targets payment processors and operators, not individual bettors directly. Some U.S. banks and credit card issuers decline transactions to known offshore gambling sites.

DFS: The Gray Area

DraftKings and FanDuel operate daily fantasy sports contests in Georgia without explicit statutory authorization, relying on the skill-game argument. Georgia has not enacted a DFS-specific regulatory statute, though HB 1329 (2023-24) attempted to create one and advanced through committee. DFS is not sports betting.

Social and Sweepstakes Casinos

Social casino and sweepstakes casino platforms are accessible to Georgia residents. These operate under a different legal theory (no real-money wagering, or dual-currency sweepstakes models). They are unregulated in Georgia and carry their own risk profile. They are not a legally sanctioned alternative to sports betting.

Next Steps: What to Watch and Who to Contact

Track the Bills in Real Time

Go to legis.ga.gov, the official Georgia General Assembly website. Search by bill number: HB 686, HB 910, SB 208, SB 571. You can sign up for email alerts on individual bills directly through the site.

Key Committees

• House Ways and Means Committee: Has jurisdiction over revenue-related bills in the House. HB 686 and HB 910 may route through this committee depending on referral.
• Senate Regulated Industries and Utilities Committee: The primary Senate committee for gambling and licensing legislation. SB 208 and SB 571 are likely to be referred here.

Watch both committees for hearing schedules. A committee hearing date signals legislative willingness to move a bill.

Floor Vote Timing

The crossover deadline is the hard stop for bills to pass their chamber of origin. After crossover, bills that have not passed their originating chamber are dead for the session. Verify the current session's crossover deadline at legis.ga.gov, as the specific 2026 date was not confirmed in the source material.

If a Bill Passes: Implementation Timeline

Assume 12 to 18 months minimum between a bill signing and the first legal wager being placed. That window covers rulemaking by the administering agency, license applications and review, operator buildout, and geofencing implementation. If the bill requires a constitutional referendum, add the time needed to schedule and conduct a statewide vote before any implementation work can begin.

Who to Contact

• Your legislator: Use the member lookup tool at legis.ga.gov to find your House and Senate representatives and contact them directly.
• Georgia Lottery Corporation: If HB 910's lottery-administered model advances, the Georgia Lottery Corporation (galottery.com) would be the relevant agency. Contact them for information on their role in any future framework.
• Georgia Attorney General's office: For formal legal opinions on the constitutional referendum question, consult the Georgia Attorney General's office directly.

For Businesses Interested in Licensing

Operators, technology vendors, or professional sports franchises exploring a Georgia license should engage a Georgia-licensed gaming attorney before any bill passes. Early engagement on license applications, compliance infrastructure, and market access agreements is advisable.

Problem Gambling Resources

The Georgia Council on Problem Gambling operates a confidential helpline at 1-800-522-4700. If sports betting is legalized in Georgia, any responsible gambling provisions in the enacted bill will likely reference this organization or a similar fund.

Page reflects bill status as of March 2026 per OpenStates tracking data. Georgia General Assembly bill status changes frequently during session. Verify current status at legis.ga.gov before acting on any information here. Nothing on this page is legal advice.