Georgia sports betting supporters could get another opportunity to push for legalization in 2027 following the election of Democratic Gov.-elect Keisha Lance Bottoms. The former Atlanta mayor supports allowing voters to decide whether to legalize casinos, with some of the revenue going toward early childhood education.
While Gov. Bottoms has focused on casinos rather than online sportsbooks, her proposal could bring gambling expansion back into the legislative discussion. However, it’s worth noting that the sports betting industry’s previous attempts have struggled to gain enough support from lawmakers in either party.
Gov. Bottoms has made expanding early childhood education a priority, promising to guarantee pre-K access for every four-year-old in Georgia. Her plan also calls for full-day kindergarten and additional investments in classrooms and teachers.
According to her official education proposal, legalized casinos could generate approximately $300 million to $500 million annually. Gov. Bottoms wants some of that revenue directed toward early learning programs, while existing state reserves would cover initial construction and equipment expenses.
The campaign estimates that expanding pre-K access could require as many as 2,600 additional classrooms, along with thousands of teachers and support staff. That would represent a significant investment, particularly as the state looks to expand access beyond its existing programs.
However, Georgia would first need voter approval, followed by legislation establishing how casinos would be licensed, regulated, and taxed, so there are still obstacles to clear. While Gov. Bottoms also hasn’t endorsed a specific sports betting proposal, her support for a casino referendum gives gambling advocates a possible opening to revisit the issue.
Sports betting supporters faced a major setback in March when the Georgia House rejected House Resolution 450. The proposed constitutional amendment received just 63 votes in favour and 98 against, falling well short of the 120 required.
The proposal would have allowed residents to vote on whether Georgia should authorize sports betting. Instead, lawmakers rejected it before the measure could reach the Senate.
The legislative voting record shows that 44 Republicans and 19 Democrats supported the resolution, while 49 members from each party opposed it. Those numbers demonstrate that legalization remains a divisive issue with both parties.
With that said, major sportsbook operators have continued investing in Georgia despite the repeated setbacks. DraftKings and FanDuel previously backed political spending efforts supporting candidates who are more open to Georgia sports betting.
Georgia remains a potentially significant market for those companies because of its population and professional sports teams, so there could continue to be a push towards opening up the market.
With Gov. Bottoms showing a willingness to support casinos within the state, it’s an encouraging development for Georgia sports betting as we head into 2027.
