Georgia lawmakers have once again turned their attention to legal gambling, forming a House study committee to examine the potential economic and social impact of authorizing casinos, sports betting, and horse racing in the state.
The House Study Committee on Gaming, led by Rep. Marcus Wiedower (R-Watkinsville), held its first public hearing this week in Watkinsville. While Georgia has considered gambling bills in nearly every legislative session for over a decade, none have made it across the finish line. The new committee will collect public testimony through the fall and deliver its findings by December 1.
At stake is whether Georgia will join the growing list of states that have legalized commercial gambling in some form. Georgia online gambling currently allows only lottery games, which fund education through the HOPE Scholarship and pre-K programs.
Casinos Lead the Discussion
The initial hearing focused primarily on casino gaming, though future meetings will also cover sports betting and pari-mutuel racing. Several developers and industry stakeholders made the case for integrated casino resorts as a tool for economic development, particularly in areas with existing tourism infrastructure.
Ed Clark, president of Atlanta Motor Speedway, pitched a proposed casino project adjacent to the racetrack that he said could generate more than 3,000 jobs during construction and create the same number of permanent positions.
“We are ready to invest in Georgia,” Clark said. “This kind of project can be transformative for the community.”
Supporters pointed to Georgia’s position as an outlier in the region. States like Tennessee, North Carolina, and Florida already offer legal gambling, drawing Georgia residents and their dollars across state lines. Lawmakers such as Rep. Ron Stephens (R-Savannah) have long argued that gambling revenue could help fund education, healthcare, and infrastructure, estimating hundreds of millions in potential annual tax revenue from casinos and sportsbooks.
Strong Opposition Remains
Despite renewed momentum, resistance to legalization remains strong. Religious groups and anti-gambling advocates turned out in force to warn of potential consequences, including addiction, bankruptcy, and crime.
Mike Griffin, a public affairs representative for the Georgia Baptist Mission Board, cautioned lawmakers about the long-term costs. “For every dollar in revenue, there are three to five dollars in social costs,” Griffin said, citing research linking gambling to increased strain on public health and safety systems.
Several lawmakers, including Rep. Emory Dunahoo (R-Gillsville) and Rep. Darlene Taylor (R-Thomasville), have previously expressed skepticism about gambling’s value to the state, particularly when weighed against the risks to vulnerable communities. These concerns have helped stall past efforts, even as public opinion has grown more favorable toward gambling in recent years.
Legalization Would Require Voter Approval
Legalizing casino gambling and retail sportsbooks would require a constitutional amendment, meaning two-thirds approval in both legislative chambers and a majority vote from Georgians in a statewide referendum. That vote could take place as soon as November 2026, if lawmakers act during the 2025 session.
Some past bills have attempted to authorize mobile sports betting without an amendment by tying it to the existing lottery system, but those proposals have failed to advance. The consensus among both supporters and opponents appears to be that a constitutional amendment is the clearest path forward.
“Legislators don’t legalize gambling,” said Rep. Alan Powell (R-Hartwell) at the hearing. “The people of Georgia legalize gambling.”
What Comes Next
The study committee is expected to hold additional hearings this fall in other parts of the state, with testimony from gaming companies, addiction experts, faith leaders, and law enforcement. Its final report could set the stage for the most serious legislative push for gambling expansion in Georgia since the lottery was created in the 1990s.
With growing public interest, pressure from developers, and the backing of key lawmakers, the 2026 ballot could mark the first real opportunity for Georgia voters to weigh in on commercial gambling.
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