Georgia’s Sports Betting Bills are Slowly Moving Forward

As the months go on, more states around the country are taking a very close look at the sports betting industry. That even includes some of the states known for their tough laws towards gambling. New reports indicate that Georgia’s sports betting bills are beginning to move through the legislative process.

As many are aware, Georgia has been largely anti-gambling over the past few decades. Lawmakers here are now taking a very close look at the growing sports gambling industry. It’s an exciting time for sports fans.

Here’s what we know about this situation!

Several States are on the Brink of Sports Betting Legalization

As many are aware, the US Supreme Court struck down the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) back in May of 2018. This was a monumental move for the country’s gambling industry. Its removal immediately gave every state in the country the ability to legalize and regulate sports betting.

Prior to PASPA’s removal, only Nevada was legally able to offer sports betting options. Many state leaders had complained about this fact, arguing it was not constitutional. Immediately after PASPA was struck down, several states launched their regulated sportsbooks.

Places like New Jersey and Delaware were quick to jump on this new industry. Other parts of the country were slower and wanted to ensure sports betting was approved in the safest way possible. Today, more than half the country has approved bills to allow sports gambling.

2021 should be a year where several more states give the green light to launch sportsbooks. There are already a few that have sports betting bills making their way through the legislative process. Arizona, Massachusetts, and Nebraska are all working to get this form of gambling regulated.

There are some clear positives associated with this industry. States are earning a massive amount of revenue from their sports gambling operations. The tax revenue here is helping states cover the costs associated with the events unfolding over the past year.

Georgia is one state that some felt would take years to look into sports gambling legislation. That idea may be incorrect. New reports indicate there is some real progress being made to get the state’s sports gambling operations up and running.

Here’s What is Happening With Georgia’s Sports Betting Bills

The expansion of sports betting can be seen around the United States. Many states previously against any forms of gambling now have successful sports betting industries up and running. The revenue potential is too high for these states to ignore.

Georgia is one of the states to completely prohibit casino gambling. Lawmakers here have pushed against expanding the number of gambling options available. Interestingly, these officials are becoming interested in the legalization of sports betting.

Senate Resolution 135 and Senate Bill 142 are two pieces of legislation making their way through Georgia’s approval process. This week, the Senate approved both the amendment and the bill. This is a huge hurdle in the way of getting sports betting approved.

Senator Jeff Mullis believes that this is the best way for the state to crack down on illegal gambling and earn valuable revenue.

“A no vote for this bill is allowing the bookies to continue to control sports betting, the bookies, the illegal activity… The yes vote is to allow the people to decide,” Mullis said.

The current bill will only allow for land-based sports betting. Those 21 years or older will have the opportunity to make wagers on sports. College bets will be permitted as long as they do not involve teams based in Georgia.

It will be interesting to see how things play out in the House. Many are hopeful that Georgia decides to approve sports gambling before the end of 2021. We’ll be sure to offer updates on the situation here over the next few months!

Sports Betting Figures in February are Expected to be Huge

Sports betting revenue continues to increase around the United States. January proved to be a very successful month for this industry. Many states saw huge amounts of money coming in from their regulated sports gambling operations.

New York saw a slight increase in January. The state’s regulated sportsbooks managed to bring in $3.57 million over the course of the month. Many are now pushing for Governor Cuomo to approve a measure to allow online sports gambling here.

Delaware also recently saw a massive surge in sports gambling revenue. In January, the state’s total handle came out to $11.7 million and total revenue of $1.7 million. That represents a 54.6% increase when compared to the month prior.

Many believe that February will be an even bigger month for this industry. Super Bowl betting reached new levels of popularity this year. Sports betting companies around the world reported massive surges in bets placed on this game.

This is a fascinating time for the US gambling industry. Many gaming companies are now focusing more of their efforts on sports gambling. This industry will only keep growing as the years go on.

Do you think we will see Georgia’s sports betting bills get approved this year? When do you expect the first sportsbook to launch here? Let us know in the comments section below!