Midterms Shocks Raise Prospects of Legal Gambling in Key States

The midterms have raised expectations of online gambling laws changing in multiple key states. Georgia, Alabama, and even Texas could see a new approach to gambling laws after new governors emerged and shock Senate races were won.

In Georgia, Keisha Lance Bottoms won the governor race in a state that has long resisted casino gambling. That could change if Bottoms gets her way.

Meanwhile, other southern states could see law changes – or at least public referendums – as outgoing governors leave and fresh blood comes in.

Midterms Shock: Where Could Gambling Laws Change?

• Georgia: Keisha Lance Bottoms may introduce a public referendum on casinos
• South Carolina: Alan Wilson supports mobile sports betting
• Alabama: Tuberville’s win could open doors to a package of reforms
• Texas: Tables turned as Goodwin earns a “good win”, but law change may take years
• Ohio: Outgoing governor, Mike DeWitt, opposed betting reform, but Amy Acton could change the landscape

Georgia’s Keisha Lance Bottoms Supports Casinos

In Georgia, Keisha Lance Bottoms won the governor race, becoming the first black woman to be elected to the office.

All eyes had actually been on the Republican challenger, Rick Jackson. He had beaten lieutenant governor Burt Jones to take the race to Bottoms. However, ultimately. it was academic after Bottoms won in a close 54%–45% contest.

Georgia is a huge state and one of the biggest in the U.S. without legalized sports betting. It also has a budget deficit that could be filled with sports betting tax dollars.

Bottoms also expressed support in April for a public referendum on casinos. She said that legalized casinos could “bring in about $300 million” for education.

Pro-Sports Betting Alan Wilson Wins in South Carolina

Alan Wilson won the South Carolina governor race as the space was vacated by Henry McMaster.

McMaster was a firm opponent of legalized sports betting in South Carolina. However, Wilson has gone on record about being pro-betting, whatever shape it ultimately takes.

We know that Wilson has supported mobile betting apps. However, he has repeatedly opposed brick-and-mortar casinos, signing up to the Opposition to Gambling Pledge in June.

Will Alabama’s Tuberville Really Open up Gambling?

Tommy Tuberville won the governorship in Alabama, although the result (52.1%–47.9%) against Doug Jones was closer than anticipated. It was so close that Democrat Jones refused to concede until the last county was called.

That could be good for online sports betting firms looking for a new state to operate in. Tuberville has hinted that he could “roll the dice” on a range of regulated gambling measures. These include commercial casinos, a lottery, or online gambling.

Texas Clean Sweep Sends Shockwaves

The seismic shockwave of the Democratic win in the midterms was nowhere more keenly felt than in Texas.

This red state went blue in the biggest story of the election. James Talarico’s win for the Senate was perhaps expected, but Gina Hinojosa’s win in the governor race wasn’t.

Democrat Vikki Goodwin becomes lieutenant-governor and out goes incumbent Dan Patrick.

Arguably, Patrick was the biggest obstacle to freeing up Texas’s historically anti-gambling landscape. The question is whether Goodwin will hold on to her veto powers.

As lieutenant-governor, Goodwin can say which bills make it to the floor of the state Senate. There’s hope of a renewed sports betting bill being introduced in 2028. If that fails, don’t expect to see anything until 2031 at the earliest.