Could legal Georgia sports betting drive tax revenue spike?

Revenue Projections and National Comparisons

Former North Carolina Rep. Jason Saine kicked off the testimonies. Saine, now a partner at lobbying firm The Southern Group, told the committee that Georgia could generate more than $100 million in tax revenue for education in the state in the first year of sports betting. Georgia’s 2025 fiscal year budget was $41.6 billion. Saine was a key driver in the legalization of sports betting in North Carolina, which generated $116 million in its first year, surpassing the legislative projection of $64 million. The two states have similar populations with approximately 10.8 million people. Saine said a key to revenue was the 18% tax rate in the legislation.

Jeremy Kudon, president of the Sports Betting Alliance, an industry group backed by Bet365, BetMGM, DraftKings, Fanatics and FanDuel, echoed Saine’s projections. Kudon said the state could bring in $154 million in year one on a 17% tax rate on sports betting revenue. That could jump to $222 million annually by year five. Saine explained the distribution of North Carolina tax revenue from sports betting that includes funding for gambling addiction treatment and prevention, amateur sports, the UNC system and a major events fund.

Public Support and Industry Backing

Polls show public support for Georgia sports betting. Kudon stressed the SBA is not asking legislators to legalise sports betting, but to allow Georgians to vote on it themselves. He then noted a University of Georgia and Metro Atlanta Chamber poll from December 2024 that found 63% of Georgians want legal sports betting. Lindsay Slader, SVP of compliance at GeoComply, said during the last NFL season (5 September 2024 to 9 February 2025) that there were 4.4 million geolocation checks from 366,000 sportsbook accounts. That was a 66% increase compared to the previous year. She also highlighted Exit 1 on I-75 in Chattanooga, just over the Georgia state line in Tennessee, where there were 834,000 geolocation checks from 13,000 accounts.

During previous legislative efforts, Atlanta sports teams have come out in favour of legalising sports betting. During this week’s meeting, the PGA Tour also backed the efforts. Scott Warfield, VP of gaming at the PGA Tour, said bettors attend more events and watch more tournaments. He also noted that legalising sports betting can help stop nefarious activities associated with the industry. “Yes, there is a revenue benefit; yes, an engagement benefit,” Warfield said. “But it’s a way to better monitor what’s happening by being above board.”

Casino Resort Interest and Development Potential

Multiple companies testified in front of the commission, excited about the prospect of opening destination resort casinos in the Peach State. That includes representatives from Bally’s Corp, Boyd Gaming, Gaming and Leisure Properties and Wynn Resorts. Christopher Gordon, president of Wynn Resorts Development, said the company is “seriously considering” Georgia. Gordon laid out what major casino companies look for when evaluating markets. He said Wynn looks for: rigorous regulatory environment, fixed, limited number of licences, reasonable tax rates, ample potential customers, and strong development sites.

Gordon then used Massachusetts and its casino development process as an example of a model Georgia should follow. Wynn won a bid process that allowed the company to open the $2.6 billion Encore Boston development on a vacant industrial river site in 2019. He said a new Georgia casino could bring up to 4,000 employees. Rick Lackey, CEO of City Commercial Real Estate, stressed the importance of destination resort sites, of which Georgia has at least 25 “very good sites”. He said there are casino developers ready to spend upward of $3 billion in the state.

Legislative Hurdles and Political Challenges

A significant challenge for the legislation is the state constitution, which prohibits gambling. While some lawmakers believe sports betting could fit under an expansion of the lottery, most believe any expansion of gambling would require a constitutional amendment. That would require a two-thirds majority in both legislative chambers and statewide voter approval. Georgia lawmakers have attempted to legalise sports betting in each of the past five legislative sessions, but along with the constitutional amendment issue, proposals have also become part of larger partisan battles.

In 2021, for example, Democrats pulled their support of sports betting after Republicans passed a controversial voting rights bill. In 2023, after sports betting did not pass a chamber of origin before a crossover deadline, proponents attempted to hijack an unrelated bill that would have named an official state soap box derby. Falling short in 2025 did not set back a timeline for potential legalisation, as voters would not have seen it on a ballot until November 2026. Legislation from this session will carry over to next year, including Rep. Marcus Wiedower’s HB 686, which includes 16 online sports betting licences and a tax rate of 24%. Wiedower chairs the study committee.

What this means

Georgia stands at a pivotal moment in its gambling policy debate, with compelling evidence from neighboring states, strong public support, and serious interest from national gaming companies pointing toward potential economic benefits. While revenue projections from sports betting alone could exceed $100 million annually and destination resorts promise thousands of jobs and billions in investment, the path forward remains blocked by constitutional prohibitions. Overcoming this will require bipartisan cooperation, a supermajority in the legislature, and ultimately, voter approval. If lawmakers can navigate the political and legal hurdles, Georgia may join the growing number of states benefiting from regulated gambling expansion—turning illicit market activity into tax revenue for education, addiction services, and community development.