Sat Mar 08 06:10:00 UTC 2025: **Georgia Legislature Fails to Legalize Sports Betting**
ATLANTA (AP) — Efforts to legalize sports betting in Georgia have failed for the seventh consecutive legislative session. A proposed constitutional amendment and accompanying bill, introduced just last week, did not receive a vote in the state House before Thursday’s deadline. While supporters, including Atlanta’s professional sports teams, business groups, and Lt. Gov. Burt Jones, pushed for the measure, a lack of bipartisan support proved insurmountable.
The failure stems from a lack of Democratic votes, preventing the amendment from achieving the necessary two-thirds majority in both chambers. Further complicating matters, Republicans remain divided on the issue, with some citing concerns about potential addiction among younger gamblers. Democrats, meanwhile, have prioritized allocating potential tax revenue from legalized sports betting towards pre-kindergarten funding.
While the measures could theoretically be revived later in the session, the chances are slim. Supporters are now looking towards the 2026 session for another attempt to place a referendum on the November ballot. The defeat contrasts sharply with Missouri’s recent legalization of sports betting, highlighting the significant hurdles remaining in states where the practice remains prohibited. Although some progress is being seen in Hawaii, where a legalization bill passed the state House, California and Texas have also faced setbacks in their attempts to legalize sports wagering in recent years.
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