Georgia lawmakers have once again introduced sports betting legislation, but political uncertainty and unresolved legal questions continue to cloud the state’s gambling outlook, including any realistic path toward online casino gaming in 2026.

This week, Rep. Matt Hatchett filed House Bill 910, a proposal to legalize sports betting under the oversight of the Georgia Lottery. The bill mirrors legislation Hatchett has introduced in previous sessions, none of which has advanced far in the legislative process. Last year’s version stalled in committee, and the 2026 iteration has been assigned to the House Higher Education Committee.

Hatchett’s proposal does not include a constitutional amendment, a key point of contention that has repeatedly divided lawmakers. While some legislators argue sports betting can be authorized under existing constitutional language governing the lottery, others maintain that voter approval through a constitutional amendment is required. Over the past several years, Georgia lawmakers have considered bills using both approaches, without reaching consensus.

Industry sources say expectations for progress this year remain low. A House Study Committee on Gaming in the State of Georgia released a nine-page report in 2025 that offered no formal recommendations, underscoring the lack of agreement within the legislature. The committee’s chairman, Rep. Marcus Wiedower, one of the General Assembly’s most vocal supporters of sports betting, resigned in October 2025, further weakening momentum.

Limited momentum, narrow focus

While the House gaming committee stopped short of endorsing legalization, a separate Senate study committee on tourism offered modest support. In a report focused on economic development, the panel suggested that legal sports betting could help Georgia attract major sporting and entertainment events. “It was a simple recommendation much like the rest of the list,” Sen. Drew Echols, who chaired the tourism committee, told *The Center Square*. “The recommendations are just that. Hard to say how many if any of the recommendations will come to fruition.”

The endorsement, however, was limited to sports betting and did not address broader forms of gambling. There has been little public discussion among lawmakers about expanding into iGaming, such as online casino games or poker, and no legislation has been filed to that effect for the 2026 session. Given the unresolved debate over sports betting alone, analysts view iGaming as a distant prospect in Georgia.

Under Hatchett’s proposal, Georgia would authorize up to 18 sportsbook licenses, with the Georgia Lottery serving as regulator. Sports betting operators would pay a $1.5 million annual licensing fee, and the state would impose a 25% tax on sports betting revenue. The Georgia Lottery would receive its own license and could issue seven additional licenses through a public application process. The remaining licenses would be allocated to specific sports organizations and venues, including:

* MLB’s Atlanta Braves
* NFL’s Atlanta Falcons
* NBA’s Atlanta Hawks
* WNBA’s Atlanta Dream
* MLS’s Atlanta United FC
* Atlanta Motor Speedway
* Augusta National Golf Course
* PGA Tour
* Two entities affiliated with the National Steeplechase Association

Supporters argue the framework would keep regulatory control within an existing state agency while tying sports betting to established sports brands. Critics counter that the structure raises fairness concerns and does little to resolve the underlying constitutional debate.

It was a simple recommendation much like the rest of the list. Hard to say how many, if any, of the recommendations will come to fruition.

2026 outlook

Despite the reintroduction of familiar legislation, Georgia’s gambling landscape remains largely unchanged heading into 2026. Sports betting continues to face procedural and political hurdles, while iGaming has gained no visible traction among lawmakers. With no clear legislative consensus and diminished leadership among proponents, observers expect Georgia to remain on the sidelines of gambling expansion this year, even as neighboring states continue to broaden their legal betting markets.