Gambling Legislation in Georgia and Alabama Gains Momentum for 2024 Legislative Sessions

• Daniel Horvat
• November 27, 2023

Two states that belong to the Bible Belt, Georgia and Alabama, are looking likely to move towards legalization of sports betting in 2024, which could then create further momentum for legalization of gambling in general.

At the moment, Alabama prohibits lotteries and most forms of gambling, excluding several Indian casinos. Georgia is even worse, as wagering on any gambling activity is prohibited, excluding raffles for charitable organizations. Both states seem to have turned to sports betting as the first item on the list and the trailblazer for the future legalization of other gambling verticals.

Alabama

The next Alabama legislative session that could discuss potential legalization of sports betting and other gambling verticals is set to begin on February 6, 2024.

Sen. Greg Albritton is one of the state’s strongest proponents of gambling legalization. He is awaiting a comprehensive gaming package from House leadership that would include Alabama sports betting. He has been involved in previous efforts to legalize sports betting in Alabama.

In terms of recent developments, Alabama Democrats are exploring the possibility of adding pro-gambling policies into the 2024 legislative session. They are seeking to use gambling legislation as a key policy platform heading into next year as part of a pro-growth strategy. However, a cross-party consensus would need to be reached given the strong Republican majority in both chambers of Alabama’s capital.

Despite multiple efforts to legalize sports betting in Alabama, including attempts in 2019, 2021, and 2022, the state has not had much success with gambling legislation. However, there seems to be an appetite to legalize Alabama sports betting at some point in the future. Lawmakers in Alabama expect multiple gaming bills, including online sports betting, to be introduced during the next state’s legislative session.

Georgia

The state has seen some progress in its efforts to legalize sports betting. On February 21, 2023, the Senate Economic Development and Tourism Committee passed a bill that aims to create a pathway for legal gambling in Georgia. Senate Bill 57, sponsored by Sen. Billy Hickman (R – Statesboro, pictured), would allow Georgia to set up a sports betting industry, both online and in-person at sporting events.

The bill has bipartisan support and passed out of committee 8-1. Despite some opposition citing concerns over gambling addiction, the bill has made significant progress. It’s also worth noting that this bill would not require a constitutional amendment to legalize sports betting in the state, which could expedite the legalization process.

Here is what some proponents of sports betting legalization in Georgia have said and done recently.

Burt Jones: The Lieutenant Governor of Georgia has been a proponent of sports betting for a long time. He introduced a sports betting bill back in 2020 when he was a member of the state Senate. He believes that sports betting is an “easy lift” and is probably the most popular of the three arenas of gambling that have been discussed in Georgia. He expects the Senate to take the lead on sports betting again when the General Assembly convenes in January.

Ron Stevens: State Representative Ron Stevens, a longtime proponent of legalized gambling, has been pushing for the expansion of gambling in Georgia. He believes that the tax benefits of sports betting are a good reason for lawmakers to go with the constitutional amendment approach. He has expressed confidence that the Legislature will vote in the session that begins in January to have a constitutional amendment on the ballot in 2024.

Harold Melton: The former Chief Justice of the Georgia Supreme Court has stated that lawmakers wouldn’t need a constitutional amendment to legalize sports betting. This is significant because creating a constitutional amendment is a much lengthier process, as it would require a voter referendum and two-thirds of the lawmakers to approve. His opinion could potentially expedite the legalization process.

These statements indicate that there is a strong push towards legalizing sports betting in Georgia, with key figures advocating for its implementation.

The next Georgia legislative session that could discuss potential legalization of sports betting and other gambling verticals is set to begin on January 8, 2024.

The process of legalizing sports betting in Georgia would involve these steps, and the bill must successfully navigate through this legislative process and receive the necessary approvals at each stage.

1.Introduction of a Bill: A bill to legalize sports betting needs to be introduced in the Georgia General Assembly. This bill can be introduced by any member of the Assembly.

2. Committee Review: Once the bill is introduced, it is assigned to a committee for review. The committee discusses the bill, makes any necessary changes, and then votes on whether to send the bill to the full House or Senate.

3. House and Senate Approval: If the committee approves the bill, it is sent to the full House or Senate for a vote. If the bill passes in one chamber, it is sent to the other chamber for a similar process. The bill must pass in both the House and Senate to move forward.

4. Governor’s Approval: If the bill passes in both the House and Senate, it is sent to the Governor for approval. The Governor can either sign the bill into law or veto it. If the Governor vetoes the bill, the General Assembly can override the veto with a two-thirds majority vote.

5. Constitutional Amendment (if necessary): Some believe that a constitutional amendment is necessary to legalize sports betting in Georgia. If this is the case, the bill would need to be approved by two-thirds of each legislative chamber and then by a majority of voters in a statewide referendum.

Conclusion

In conclusion, both Alabama and Georgia are making strides towards changing their gambling legislation. While Alabama is still in the early stages of introducing comprehensive gambling bills, Georgia has made significant progress with the passing of a sports betting bill in the Senate committee. As 2023 unfolds, it will be interesting to see how these legislative efforts evolve in both states and how will the interested parties prepare for the 2024 legislative sessions.