(The Center Square) — The Georgia Senate Committee on Regulated Industries and Utilities passed a measure to authorize sports betting in the state.
Senate Bill 172, the Georgia Sports Betting Integrity Act, would allow sports betting online or at kiosks, potentially at venues like sports stadiums if Georgia voters approve a constitutional amendment. It differs from measures that other lawmakers, such as state Sen. Brandon Beach, R-Alpharetta, have proposed to let Georgians decide on a constitutional amendment to allow casino gambling, sports betting, and pari-mutuel wagering.
State Sen. Bill Cowsert, R-Athens, said the Senate dealt with three sports betting bills last year, including SB 172. The Senate defeated Senate Bill 57 and Senate Resolution 140. There is debate about whether a constitutional amendment is required for sports betting if the Legislature defines it as a lottery game.
“I don’t see anything to fear from a constitutional amendment,” Cowsert said during a committee meeting. “I think if you make a policy change like this, it ought to have the buy-in of both parties, and the citizens ought to be on board to do that. So, I embrace that opportunity.
“I do think the political reality gives us another reason to use a constitutional amendment,” Cowsert added. “And that is that there are a lot of particularly conservative Republicans that are very hesitant to support gambling because their constituents aren’t all in on this. And it’s much easier to say I will vote to allow the public to have sports betting, although I personally don’t participate in that — more of a libertarian take on it.”
The measure would create a seven-member Georgia Gaming Corp. and a Georgia Sports Betting Commission to supervise and regulate the program, including initiatives to help those with gambling problems. Cowsert said the state would issue at least six licenses, and the lottery could serve as a provider.
Sports betting revenue “is not nearly as significant as dreamed and hoped for,” Cowsert said.
“If you do it by a constitutional amendment, you can dedicate where … the tax proceeds, the revenues are spent,” Cowsert said. “Otherwise, there’s only a very narrow exception — up to 1% of our budget can be dedicated funding; otherwise, it naturally falls into the general fund.”
State Sen. John Albers, R-Roswell, encouraged sports betting funding to benefit the state’s HOPE Scholarship and Pre-K program, similar to Georgia Lottery proceeds.
“I personally would like [lawmakers to consider] this all going back to the Hope Scholarship, just like we have everything today,” Albers said during the hearing. “I think that success has been there at a time that we are having a bit of a childcare crisis if you will. We need more funding there than ever.”