Is sports betting legal in Georgia? No. Sports betting is not legal in Georgia, online or in person, and no sportsbook can be licensed. The latest attempt, the constitutional amendment HR 450, lost on the House floor on March 6, 2026 by 63 votes to 98. The General Assembly meets again on January 11, 2027, when every bill starts over. Last checked October 13, 2026.
The rundown
- 01Betting on a game is a misdemeanor; taking bets is a felony.
- 02The Senate has passed sports betting four times; the House never has.
- 03HR 450 fell 57 votes short of the 120 it needed in March 2026.
- 04The next chance starts with the session that opens January 11, 2027.
- StatusNot legal
- 2026 House vote63–98
- Needed120
- Next sessionJan 11, 2027
Why sports betting is not legal in Georgia
Sports betting is not legal in Georgia today, and Georgia sports betting runs into the constitution first. Article I, Section II, Paragraph VIII of the Georgia Constitution prohibits "all lotteries, and the sale of lottery tickets, and all forms of pari-mutuel betting and casino gambling". The exceptions are narrow: the state lottery, whose proceeds fund HOPE scholarships and pre-K, nonprofit bingo and nonprofit raffles. The criminal code then makes a bet on a game a misdemeanor and running a betting operation a felony.
…all lotteries, and the sale of lottery tickets, and all forms of pari-mutuel betting and casino gambling are hereby prohibited; and this prohibition shall be enforced by penal laws…Read the text
Georgia sports betting bills and votes since 2021
Georgia sports betting has passed the Senate four times; the House has never passed it. The chart shows each roll call against the votes the measure needed. Amendments need two thirds of all members (38 of 56 senators, 120 of 180 representatives); ordinary bills need a majority (29 senators).
- SR 135 2021 · Senate amendment 41–10 passed
- SB 142 2021 · Senate lottery bill 34–17 passed
- SB 57 2023 · Senate bill 19–37 needed 29
- SR 140 2023 · Senate amendment 30–26 needed 38
- SB 386 2024 · Senate bill 35–15 passed
- SR 579 2024 · Senate amendment 41–12 passed
- HR 450 2026 · House amendment 63–98 needed 120
Bars show yes votes as a share of all members of the chamber; the marker is the threshold. Source: Georgia General Assembly roll calls. SR 135 later had its sports betting text replaced in the House by an unrelated tax amendment.
Amendment or lottery game: the two routes
Supporters of Georgia sports betting disagree on the legal path. One camp says sports betting must be written into the constitution, which needs two thirds of both chambers and then a statewide vote. The other says sports betting could be run by the Georgia Lottery as a lottery game under the existing exception, so an ordinary bill signed by the Governor would do. No court or Attorney General opinion has settled which reading is right.
- Lottery routeHB 910 and SB 208 would make sports betting a Georgia Lottery game, taxed at 25 percent, by ordinary law signed by the Governor.
- Amendment routeHR 450 and the Senate resolutions would write sports betting into the constitution; voters would have the last word.
- What both versions shareOnline betting for people 21 and over who are physically in Georgia.
The amendment route
-
Reached twice: SR 135 in 2021 (41-10) and SR 579 in 2024 (41-12).
-
Never reached. SR 579 cleared a House committee on the last day of the 2024 session but never got a floor vote; HR 450 got 63 votes on the House floor on March 6, 2026.
-
An amendment passed by the 2027 or 2028 legislature would go to voters in November 2028 at the earliest.
-
Bills such as HB 686 set the rules: 21+, a 27.5 percent tax and up to 16 licenses in its version.
Lottery route: HB 910 and SB 208 would have run sports betting as a Georgia Lottery game without an amendment. Neither passed.
Is DraftKings legal in Georgia? The apps Georgians ask about
No betting apps in Georgia are licensed, and none can be until a vote succeeds; what Georgians find when they look for betting apps in Georgia are fantasy and prediction products. Pick one to see where it stands.
Choose an app to see its status in Georgia.
What gambling is legal in Georgia
- Georgia Lottery: draw games, instant tickets and online lottery games, 18 and over.
- Coin-operated amusement machines regulated through the Georgia Lottery Corporation.
- Nonprofit bingo and raffles.
- Not legal: casinos, horse racing and any form of pari-mutuel betting.
Where Georgians can bet legally
Legal sports betting depends on where you are when you bet. From Georgia, the nearest options are online in Tennessee and North Carolina, and Hard Rock Bet in Florida, each once the app confirms you are inside that state.
- Not legal
- Online and in person
- In person only
Help with gambling in Georgia
The Georgia Council on Problem Gambling lists the Georgia Crisis and Access Line, 1-800-715-4225, as the state's gambling helpline. Georgia has no self-exclusion program, since it has no casinos or sportsbooks.
Georgia sports betting questions
Is sports betting legal in Georgia?
No. Betting on a game is a misdemeanor under O.C.G.A. 16-12-21, and taking bets is commercial gambling, a felony punishable by one to five years in prison under 16-12-22. No sportsbook is licensed in Georgia.
Did Georgia pass sports betting in 2026?
No. On March 6, 2026 the House rejected HR 450, a constitutional amendment, by 63 to 98, far short of the 120 votes it needed. The enabling bill HB 686 and the lottery-model bill HB 910 also died, and the session ended on April 2, 2026.
Why does Georgia need a constitutional amendment for sports betting?
Article I, Section II, Paragraph VIII of the Georgia Constitution prohibits all lotteries, pari-mutuel betting and casino gambling, with exceptions only for the state lottery, nonprofit bingo and nonprofit raffles. Supporters of the amendment route say sports betting must be added there; supporters of the lottery route argue it could run as a Georgia Lottery game.
When could sports betting become legal in Georgia?
The next General Assembly meets on January 11, 2027, and every bill has to be filed again. An amendment needs two thirds of each chamber and then voters at a general election; the next one after 2026 is in November 2028.
Is DraftKings legal in Georgia?
The DraftKings sportsbook is not available in Georgia. DraftKings lists Georgia for its fantasy contests, Pick6 and prediction products, which no Georgia law licenses or expressly permits.
Is FanDuel legal in Georgia?
Not as a sportsbook. Georgia has no law under which any sportsbook could be licensed.
Is PrizePicks legal in Georgia?
PrizePicks states that Georgia residents 18 and over can play its Player Picks and Team Picks. Georgia has no fantasy sports law: bills to regulate it failed in 2018 and 2024, so the products are unregulated rather than licensed.
Are prediction markets like Kalshi legal in Georgia?
They are offered under federal CFTC registration. No Georgia statute, court ruling or official action on sports event contracts was found.
What gambling is legal in Georgia?
The Georgia Lottery, including coin-operated amusement machines regulated through the Lottery, and nonprofit bingo and raffles. Georgia has no casinos and no horse racing.
What would Georgia's sports betting bills have done?
HB 686 would have taxed operators at 27.5 percent, allowed up to 16 licenses, set the age at 21 and banned prop bets on college games, taking effect only after a constitutional amendment. HB 910 and SB 208 would have run sports betting as a lottery game, taxed at 25 percent, without an amendment.
Where is the nearest legal sports betting to Georgia?
Tennessee and North Carolina allow online betting for anyone located in those states, and Florida has Hard Rock Bet. South Carolina and Alabama have no legal sports betting.
Where can I get help with gambling in Georgia?
The Georgia Council on Problem Gambling lists the Georgia Crisis and Access Line, 1-800-715-4225, as the state gambling helpline. Nationally, call 1-800-GAMBLER.