A Georgia Senate panel tasked with forming recommendations for a state amendment that would legalize sports gambling has not come to any agreement.
Debate ensues over whether state voters should consider one constitutional amendment that covers all forms of gambling (casinos, horse racing and sports betting) or whether voters should decide on each individually.
Legalization of gambling in Georgia would require a constitutional amendment passed by a two-thirds majority from both houses of the General Assembly.
The amendment would then go to voters, who must ratify it with a majority vote.
A House panel is also studying the pros and cons of sports betting legalization.
In the past months Georgia lawmakers have heard from lobbyists on both sides of the issue
including representatives of Atlanta’s professional sports teams.
The Atlanta Falcons, Braves, Hawks and United joined forces to create the Georgia Sports
Integrity Alliance, which argues that gambling regulation would limit illegal gaming in the state.
Georgia is one eight states in the country without commercial or tribal gaming.
Last year state Representative Ron Stephens introduced a bill to legalize casino gambling but it never reached the House floor.
Peach State proponents of gambling see plenty of potential especially in the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to close to six million people.
