Georgia Misses The Opportunity To Legalize Sports Betting Due To Disagreements Over Taxation.

In 2024, Georgia once again failed to officially legalize the sphere of sports betting. The main reason for the failure of another legislative initiative was irreconcilable disagreements among lawmakers regarding the distribution of tax revenues from this promising segment of the gambling business.

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Two Bills Did Not Even Receive Preliminary Consideration.

On the last day of the spring legislative session of 2024, March 28, the Committee of the House of Representatives of Georgia voted against two alternative bills on the legalization of sports betting (including Senate Bill 386). Deputies failed to reach a consensus on amending the state constitution and some other related initiatives, which prevented proposals from being put to a vote in the House of Representatives.

Disagreements Between Democrats And Republicans Over The Distribution Of Tax Revenues

Representatives of the Democratic Party openly expressed their disagreement with the proposed procedure for spending tax revenues from sports betting. Without their support, Senate Resolution 579, which required a two-thirds majority vote, could not garner the necessary number of votes to pass in the House of Representatives and subsequent approval by the Senate.

Republicans, in turn, also found themselves divided on this issue. Some Republican lawmakers opposed the legalization of betting, citing concerns about the potential increase in the number of people with gambling addiction and destructive behavior.

Claims Of Proponents And Opponents Of Bills

Among those who voted “for” was Democratic House member Sam Park. However, he explained that he and his fellow party members could not support the passage of bills in their current form. The reason was an amendment introduced by the Committee, which allowed tax revenues to be directed toward funding preschool classes and the HOPE scholarship program for college students. While the Senate’s initial initiative envisaged a broader range of targeted use of funds, some Democrats insisted on prioritizing funding for student financial assistance programs not conditioned on performance.

Advocates of legalization pointed out that Georgia citizens should have the opportunity to make legal bets, as many of them are already involved in illegal gambling. Republican Marcus Widauer, one of the sponsors of the bill, noted: “This will allow people to move from the illegal market to the legal one, regulate it, tax it, and protect the citizens of Georgia.”

However, opponents fear that legalization will open Pandora’s box, especially for young people, exposing them to the risk of gambling addiction. Republican Clay Perkel commented, “When it’s sanctioned by the state, for many people, it becomes the norm.”

Prospects For Legalization And Measures To Combat Gambling Addiction

Currently, sports betting is allowed in 38 US states, with online betting available in most of them from anywhere. Tax rates vary significantly from state to state – from 6.75% in Iowa to 51% in New York and Rhode Island.

Senator Bill Cowsert, the leader in advancing legalization in the Georgia Senate, noted that the proposed amendment included “the most robust problem gambling provisions in the history of any sports betting legislation in the country.” According to him, it provided for allocating up to $22.5 million for gambling addiction treatment programs.

Despite another failure, the issue of legalizing sports betting in Georgia will undoubtedly remain relevant in the coming years. Lawmakers will need to find a compromise solution regarding tax policy that would satisfy all interested parties and allow for maximum benefit from this high-revenue segment of the gambling industry while simultaneously ensuring all necessary measures to protect public welfare.