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Bill would pass easier if no constitutional change needed, proponents say<\/p>\n
ATLANTA \u2014 A supporter of legalized sports betting in Georgia said he may have found a workaround to get this session through.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
Casino gambling and horse racing have failed because they would require amendments to the state constitution.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
A constitutional amendment requires a two-thirds majority of parliament. Then statewide voters must approve it.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
Proponents, however, believe sports betting does not require a constitutional amendment and could become law with a majority vote in the House and Senate and the governor’s signature.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
Georgia voters approved the state lottery a generation ago, so backers believe sports betting can be added to the Georgia Lottery to fund the state’s HOPE scholarship and Pre-K programs. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
“We need to tax it, regulate it, win the lottery,” said Rep. Ron Stevens (R-Savannah). <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
He added that this would simplify the matter and facilitate passage through Congress this year. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
Gambling is heavily featured in sports program advertisements. Gambling powerhouse Barrys has acquired the name of his cable channel that broadcasts Atlanta Braves games.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
Sports betting passed the state Senate last year, but opposition from lobbyists like Mike Griffin dampened the momentum.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
“You can’t even watch golf now unless you’re told to gamble,” Mike Griffin of the Georgia Baptist Mission Board said in 2022.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
But Stevens said Georgians are betting on sports on international sites anyway. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
“Another way to look at it is that we’re sending HOPE and Pre-K money to the Caribbean,” he said. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
Stevens said if the sportsbook gets through this session, it’s likely that the lawsuit will challenge it.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n