Admin March 29, 2024
While Georgia has long been interested in legalizing sports betting, no bills have been passed yet. The most recent attempt to bring sports betting to the Peach State involved the filing of SR 579 and SB 386. These bills passed the Senate but failed to clear the House, meaning Georgia sports betting is off the table until at least 2025.
While daily fantasy sports competitions are not explicitly legal in Georgia, there have been no moves made to outright ban them. Because of this, leading DFS & Props providers offer their services to players in the Peach State who wish to wager real money while waiting for online sports betting to be legalized.
The best Georgia Fantasy & Props Sites – May 2024
More on Georgia Sports Betting
Georgia Sports Betting: As it stands
| Online Sports Betting | N |
| Mobile Sports Betting | N |
| Retail Sports Betting | N |
| Minimum Age | 21+ |
Georgia currently has very restrictive gambling laws that encompass sports betting. This means that there are no legal options for players to place wagers at the moment.
However, there is hope that this will soon change. There is a clear desire in the Georgia state legislature to bring legal gambling, including sports betting, to the Peach State. The Senate has cleared sports betting bills in the past, but the House remains an obstacle to actual legalization.
SB 386
The sports betting bill SB 386 passed through the State Senate by a vote of 35-15 on Feb. 1. It classified sports betting as a lottery game to circumvent the need for a constitutional amendment and would’ve issued up to 16 mobile sports betting operator licenses. Operators could’ve partnered with pro franchises like the Atlanta Falcons in addition to the Georgia Lottery. A $100,000 application fee and 20% tax on adjusted gross income would’ve applied to operators.
Bill sponsor Sen. Clint Dixon continued to oppose the need for a constitutional amendment, but Sen. Bill Cowsert’s proposal ultimately won out. While the bill had support from Gov. Brian Kemp, it failed to pass the House like SB 172 did.
SB 538
SB 538 was a little more expansive than SB 386 as it attempted to legalize not only sports betting but also brick-and-mortar casino gambling in Georgia. It passed through the Senate Economic Development and Tourism Committee in mid February but also failed to make it through the House.
If SB 538 became law, it would’ve allocated five casino licenses and taxed 13% of their adjusted gross revenue. The bill didn’t specify the number of sports betting licenses nor the sports betting tax rate. The distribution of the tax revenue would’ve been as follows:
- 50% to the Freight and Logistics Fund
- 20% to mental health and health care programs
- 20% to the state’s Child Care Fund
- 10% to historically black colleges and universities
Neighboring states with legal online sports betting
Georgia, like many of its neighbors, is still in the process of legalizing sports betting sites. However, some adjacent states do have legal sports betting options.
Georgia Sports Betting FAQs
Is sports betting legal in Georgia?
Sports betting is not currently legal in Georgia. Past attempts at legalization have failed primarily due to bills passing through the Senate but not the House. The issue of legalizing sports betting in Georgia will likely resurface in 2025.
Can I bet on FanDuel in Georgia?
FanDuel offers daily fantasy sports in Georgia. While not explicitly legal, the state Senate did not find it necessary to formally approve DFS after a 2017 proposition. This has left DFS competitions free to run.
However, the FanDuel sportsbook will be unavailable to people inside Georgia’s state lines until more expansive legislation passes to legalize and license online sports betting.
Is DraftKings Sportsbook legal in Georgia?
The DraftKings sportsbook is not currently legal in Georgia. The Peach State is still in the process of legalizing online sports betting, and so players will have to wait until that process is complete before potentially getting access to the DraftKings sportsbook.
However, players are able to wager real money on daily fantasy sports using DraftKings.
What sportsbook can I use in Georgia?
There are currently no legal sportsbooks that can be used in Georgia. The Peach State is still going through the process of legalizing sports betting, and so no sportsbooks have been licensed.
While some players may be tempted to use offshore sportsbooks, these are not legal on either a federal or state level. They also would not fall under the jurisdiction of the Georgia Lottery, and so players would receive no consumer protections.
Can you sports bet in Atlanta?
It is not currently possible to bet on sports in Atlanta. The state legislature is in the process of legalizing sports betting and signing final bills.
There is hope that sports betting will be legalized in soon, meaning sports betting could come to Atlanta and the rest of the Peach State.
Most likely Georgia sports betting sites
- BetMGM – Market topping sportsbook
- FanDuel – Great value and parlays
- DraftKings – In-depth stat analysis available
- Caesars – Strong rewards and promotions
4. Caesars
| App | Live betting | Streaming | Same game parlay | Refer a friend bonus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
Caesars have one of the best reputations in the entire gambling industry, and take their online sports betting services just as seriously as they do their original Las Vegas, NV resort. They purchased the leading British sportsbook William Hill to offer players the best possible experience.
Players with Caesars will enjoy a huge selection of bonuses and promotions, along with a daily selection of special bets and boosted lines. These can be used to enhance the action across the huge catalog of domestic and international sport that Caesar offers.
There is also an easy same-game parlay builder, making it simple for players who like to take multiple lines on the same game to build a ticket.
Additionally, Caesars is available in many states with a great new customer offer that is one of the best in the market.
3. DraftKings
| App | Live betting | Streaming | Same game parlay | Refer a friend bonus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
Players in Georgia are already able to use DraftKings for daily fantasy sports. Thanks to this presence in the Peach State, DraftKings will no doubt look to add Georgia to the many states where it is able to offer its sportsbook.
What makes the DraftKings sportsbook stand out is the ease of access and depth of stat breakdowns for most events. There is a tab alongside game lines that lets players quickly and easily see which teams are in form and try to find any potential mismatches.
DraftKings also offers a generous promotions and rewards program for its players and offers daily special parlays and odds boosted bets. There are also articles published with further analysis on where they think the day’s winners could be found.
2. FanDuel
| App | Live betting | Streaming | Same game parlay | Refer a friend bonus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
FanDuel already have close ties to Georgia, and so will no doubt be front runners when the time comes for sportsbooks to apply for licenses. Players in the Peach State are able to use FanDuel for daily fantasy sports, while the company announced in May 2021 that they would open a $15m development and IT hub in Atlanta.
Should the FanDuel betting app be approved to launch in Georgia, fans will find some of the best value action on the market. When comparable bets are compared across multiple sportsbooks, FanDuel often has slightly better returns than their peers.
The operator’s welcome offer is usually very competitive, which makes sense for one of the premier sports betting brands out there.
This is alongside a great bonus and rewards program, as well as a daily rotation of special parlays and odds boost bets. These run across the huge selection of domestic and international sports that FanDuel offers its players to bet on.
1. BetMGM
| App | Live betting | Streaming | Same game parlay | Refer a friend bonus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
BetMGM has stood out as online sports betting has become legalized across America. Trusted to operate across multiple states, the sportsbook has forged a reputation for offering fantastic action alongside a great rewards program.
At times, BetMGM runs dual welcome offers for new customers to pick from, which is pretty rare. It’s a nice little touch because players can pick an offer based on their specific betting style.
Not to mention, there is a huge selection of sports to bet on with BetMGM, with a deep selection of lines offered on each match. The simple and sleek design on both the BetMGM desktop site and app makes it quick and simple for players to find the exact bet they are after, though.
There is also a daily selection of special parlay bets, along with a range of Lion’s Boost enhanced lines. With a huge catalog of rewards and promotions across a range of sports, it’s easy to see why so many players have flocked towards BetMGM.
Is Retail sports betting legal in Georgia?
Georgia currently has some of the most restrictive sports betting rules in the country, with only limited lottery and pari-mutuel betting options available. This means that there are no retail sports betting locations in Peach State.
While there’s no hope for legal sports betting in Georgia in 2024, we’ll likely see renewed legislative efforts next year.
Latest Georgia Sports Betting News
The failure of SR 579 and SB 386 to pass the House reflects the past failure of SB 386 and SB 538. This branch of the legislature will likely make it challenging for Georgia sports betting to ever become legal. Stay tuned for a renewed effort to occur in 2025.
The history of Georgia Sports Betting
Georgia has historically had very strict rules on all forms of gambling, including sports betting. As such, it should not be a surprise that efforts to liberalize gambling laws are only now making progress.
Many states first looked to legalize sports betting when the Supreme Court struck down the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PAPSA) as unconstitutional in 2018. However, Georgia did not make their first moves towards legalizing sports betting until 2020.
A pair of bills that would have seen legal sports betting come to Georgia came close to being passed in 2021, but political wranglings in the House ensured neither passed. The 2024 SB 386 and SB 538 bills similarly stalled in the house.
Georgia Sports Teams to bet on
Georgia is a state with some serious sporting muscle. Along with being home to some of the biggest professional teams in sport, the Peach State is also home to national powerhouse college programs such as the Georgia Bulldogs.
Atlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons joined the NFL as an expansion team in 1966 and have represented A-Town for their entire history. Their current home is at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, which was opened in 2017.
The Falcons have been to two Super Bowls, in 1998 and 2016, however fell short both times. Their 2016 defeat to the New England Patriots following the infamous 21-3 collapse marked the start of a gradual decline for the Falcons over the next several seasons.
However, things are looking brighter for the future. New head coach Arthur Smith managed a 7-10 debut season with a depleted squad, and legendary quarterback Matt Ryan shows no signs of slowing down after 14 years on the team.
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves can trace their history back to 1871, making it the oldest professional sports franchise in America. The team was founded as the Boston Red Stockings, and are one of just two of MLB’s charter clubs along with the Chicago Cubs.
The Braves have called Atlanta home since 1966, and have brought the city home a pair of World Series titles in 1995 and 2021. These go along two the team had playing in Boston in 1914 and Milwaukee in 1957.
Atlanta Hawks
The Atlanta Hawk’s history goes back to 1946 when the team played out of Buffalo, New York as the Bisons. After stints in Illinois, Milwaukee, and St. Louis, the Hawks finally settled in Atlanta in 1968.
The team won their sole NBA Championship in 1958 when they played out of St. Louis, meaning that they are yet to bring a title home to Atlanta. However, after their surprise deep playoff run in 2021 under then-interim head coach Nate McMillan, it seems fans can look forward to a bright future. .
Atlanta United FC
Atlanta United is one of MLS’ newer teams, having joined the league as an expansion franchise in 2017. Despite their youth, United have wasted no time filling their trophy cabinet.
In 2018 the team won the MLS Easter Conference Championship and MLS Cup. They followed this up in 2019 by winning the US Open Cup and Campeones Cup.
Winning fans over with this early success has led to United being one of the best-supported clubs in the country. The near-44,000 average attendance they attract to Mercedes-Benz Stadium is nearly double that of the second most supported Seattle Sounders.
Georgia Bulldogs Football
The University of Georgia are an absolute powerhouse in college football, with the mighty Georgia Bulldogs. The Bulldogs are one of the longest running college football programs in the nation, dating back to 1892, and are so intertwined with the history of the game that they are even credited with the first forward pass in 1895.
The Bulldogs won their second National Championship in 2021, with starting quarterback Stetson Bennett steering his side to a 33-18 defeat of fierce rivals Alabama. This follows their two previous claimed national titles, which came in 1942 and 1980.
In 2022 the Georgia Bulldogs saw their first former starting quarterback win a Super Bowl. Matthew Stafford lead the Bulldogs between 2006 and 2008, and in 2022 won Super Bowl LVI with the LA Rams.
Georgia State Panthers Men’s Basketball
The Georgia State Panthers may not be the same size as their Bulldog neighbors, however, they have quietly become one of the leading men’s basketball college programs. While the Bulldogs have not made the annual NCAA Tournament since 2015, the Panthers have become regulars.
Playing out of their small GSU Sports Arena home, the Panthers have made it into March Madness four times between 2015 and 2022. For their next appearance, the Panthers will hope to beat their previous best performance of making the Round of 32 in 2015.
