Betting in Georgia Could Play a Role in Political Races

Legal betting in Georgia has long been seen as a goal for the sportsbook and casino industry. Based on certain political stances and donations, it appears that could play a role in the Peach State’s elections.

Georgia voters chose their primary candidates on Tuesday, who advanced to the general election in November. The biggest name to take a stance on gambling was former Atlanta mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, who won the Democratic nomination to be Georgia’s next governor.

She has come out in favor of potentially legalizing casino gambling in Georgia, which she suggested should come from a ballot measure. That would place the issue before the people of Georgia and let them vote on whether to make legal betting in Georgia a reality.

That might be a risky proposition, given that the Georgia state House already crushed House Resolution 450, which would have brought sports betting to Georgia. Per Georgia law, a ballot measure must clear ⅔ of both the state House and Senate before going before the voters.

HR 450 didn’t even get a majority, losing 98-63. However, some legislators voted no because they couldn’t control the spending in the bill, not because of an opposition to legal betting in Georgia.

Where Do Bottoms’ Opponents Stand on Legal Betting in Georgia?

While Bottoms won her primary outright, Republicans Burt Jones and Rick Jackson advanced to a runoff. Georgia law requires the top two finishers in an election to compete in a runoff election, unless one candidate receives at least 50% plus one in the initial election. Bottoms met that requirement, while Jones and Jackson were far below that amongst Republicans.

Jones has previously offered tepid support for sports betting in Georgia as the state’s lieutenant governor. He hasn’t gone beyond that, in part because Georgia governor Brian Kemp has taken a hands-off approach to betting. Kemp has regularly said that bringing legal betting to Georgia will take a constitutional amendment, which he has no role in.

Kemp is term-limited, which is why Jones and Jackson are competing with Bottoms to succeed him. Jackson, who’s running as a political outsider, has not taken any position on gambling in Georgia.

How Else Might Legal Betting in Georgia Affect November’s Races?

The political action committee (PAC) Win for America has already poured over $10 million into state legislative races across the Peach State. Win for America is made up of the largest sportsbooks in the country, including FanDuel, DraftKings, Fanatics and Bet365.

As betting in Georgia enjoys bipartisan support, Win for America is backing both Democratic and Republican candidates. Political laws prevent candidates from coordinating with PACs, so a candidate receiving money doesn’t necessarily mean it’s fully aligned with Win for America’s positions.

In practice, Democratic politicians want to know how any tax revenue from betting in Georgia would be spent. Republican lawmakers, conversely, focus more on their own moral objections to gambling before they’re willing to support it.

State legislative races are among the cheapest political contests in the country. That’s because state House and Senate districts are more compact, limiting the necessary reach to connect with voters. Georgia’s races are more expensive because the Atlanta media market so dominates the state. Candidates near other Georgia cities might be a better buy for Win for America’s dollars.

Who Else in Georgia Supports Legal Betting?

It’s tough to tell, given the variety of reasons for shooting down HR 450. Several Democrats, for example, said they supported HR 450’s ideas, but not its spending framework. That’s meant voting history isn’t a reliable way to determine support or opposition.

House Speaker Jon Burns (R-Newington) can probably be counted as at least open to the idea. Burns has expressed cautious support for sports betting before. Burns won his primary on Tuesday and will likely remain House Speaker in 2027 as a result.

Senate majority leader Jason Anavitarte (R-Dallas) is tougher to read. He voted against Senate Resolution 140, which would have legalized sports betting in Georgia, in 2023. But it’s possible he’s changed his mind, and Win for America has supported both him and Burns.

The general election happens on Nov. 3.