In an industry news update that surprised absolutely no one who’s been tracking the Peach State’s legislative dance with sports wagering, lawmakers have once again dropped the ball on the sports betting expansion in Georgia. Thursday’s crossover deadline came and went without House Resolution 450 or House Bill 686 even seeing the light of day on the House floor, despite clearing the Rules Committee just hours earlier.
The stats paint a picture of missed opportunity that would make any analyst cringe. GeoComply’s data shows Georgians attempted 3.6 million geolocation checks during the NFL season alone.
ICYMI: Georgia's sports betting legalization hopes fell again last night in the state legislature; proponents will have to try again next year, likely with the intention of placing a sports betting measure on the 2026 ballot which, if approved, would mean legal betting in 2027
— Ryan Butler (@ButlerBets) March 7, 2025
That’s millions of instances where residents tried accessing local betting sites from neighboring states. This represents a 101% year-over-year surge in Georgians attempting to place legal wagers elsewhere.
Talk about leaving money on the table. Luckily, for residents of the Peach State, the best offshore sportsbooks are readily available to take their action while providing a one-stop shop that often includes sportsbooks, casino and horse racing betting.
Fourth Quarter Collapse
The two-bill package (HR 450 and HB 686) had momentum heading into the final hours. After clearing the Rules Committee between 7-8 p.m. on Thursday, all signs pointed to an improbable floor vote before the midnight deadline, which would have marked an improbable upset at the buzzer.
Instead, Speaker Jon Burns called the session to a close nearly an hour early, effectively killing sports betting hopes for 2025.
The legislation featured a 24% tax rate that would have directed 85% of the first $150 million toward Georgia’s pre-K program and HOPE scholarships. The remaining 15% would address problem gambling concerns.
The Road Ahead
House Higher Education Committee Chairman, Chuck Martin, suggested the legislation “came in late and people just weren’t there yet.” But after three consecutive years of similar failures, one has to wonder if Georgia’s lawmakers are playing to win or simply running out the clock.
The scoreboard now resets to 2026, when perhaps Georgia will finally convert on this opportunity that millions of its residents clearly want. Until then, the state remains on the sidelines of a multi-billion dollar industry that continues to grow without them.
Georgia does this every year. They pass a bill for sports betting to be voted on in the house and they just delay and delay and delay so it doesn’t get brought up
— Shane (@Moneyman4lyfe_) March 7, 2025
The Competitive Landscape
While Georgia continues its legislative hesitation, the sports betting landscape around the country evolves rapidly. For example, Hawaii’s lawmakers just passed House Bill 1308, and Mississippi is pushing to expand its retail betting operation to include mobile wagering.
What’s particularly frustrating for industry observers is that Georgia represents the eighth-most populous state in America. Currently, two of the three most populated states in the US (California and Texas) have pushed back against the expansion of online sports betting.
