How To Bet On Sports In Georgia

ATLANTA – Legislation to legalize online sports betting in Georgia gained momentum in the state Senate Thursday just as it appeared to get sidetracked in the Georgia House of Representatives.

• At the moment, sports betting either online or offline is not legal in Georgia, and neither is betting on horse or dog races. Neither does Georgia even border any states where sports betting is currently.
• Sports Betting for GA Beginners. New to sports betting in Georgia? Check out our 11 sports betting tips for beginners so you can get started placing bets on the Atlanta Braves. Sports Betting Glossary. The sports betting lexicon is vast and sometimes confusing, especially to new bettors. Check out our sports betting.

A Senate committee passed a constitutional amendment that would put sports betting on the statewide ballot next year for Georgia voters to decide.

You can safely place bets at legitimate Georgia sports betting websites that are offshore. The general Georgia gambling laws can be found in Title 16 Chapter 12 of the Georgia Code. Visit the Georgia.

Senators decided to pursue the referendum route after the House postponed a floor vote on a bill aimed at legalizing sports betting without changing the state Constitution.

'It looks like it might not fare well in the House,' said Sen. Bill Cowsert, R-Athens, chairman of the Senate Regulated Industries and Utilities Committee. '[A constitutional amendment] might be the way to go.'

Sports betting supporters, including an alliance of Atlanta's four pro sports teams, have been pushing since last year for lawmakers to legalize betting on sports by statute, which would need only simple majority votes of the House and Senate.

Constitutional amendments require two-thirds majorities in each of the two legislative chambers, a higher hurdle that backers of legalizing casino gambling and pari-mutuel betting on horse racing have been unable to clear in the General Assembly in a decade of effort.

Cowsert said he has become convinced that passing a statute authorizing the Georgia Lottery Corp. to oversee sports betting without amending the Constitution wouldn't overcome a court challenge.

'It's a real stretch to call sports betting a lottery game,' he said. 'We're on pretty thin ice to convince a court.'

Cowsert said going the constitutional amendment route also would let lawmakers dedicate the proceeds from sports betting to purposes other than Georgia's HOPE Scholarships and pre-kindergarten programs, which the lottery helps fund.

The constitutional amendment the committee approved Thursday would dedicate the proceeds instead to needs-based college scholarships, rural health care and deployment of broadband in unserved areas.

'I think this will probably generate much broader support for this initiative,' Cowsert said

Sen. Ed Harbison, D-Columbus, said HOPE originally was a needs-based scholarship program when voters approved the lottery in the early 1990s. After lottery sales took off, lawmakers removed an income cap that had been placed on scholarship awards, and HOPE become a merit-based program.

Besides the constitutional change, the committee also approved a 42-page 'enabling' bill with details on how sports betting would be conducted in Georgia.

Under the bill, sportsbooks would pay a 16% tax on their income to the state.

The lottery board would license at least six companies such as FanDuel and DraftKings to operate online sportsbooks in Georgia. The companies would pay an application fee of $10,000 and annual operating fees of $100,000.

Golden state vs okc odds. While wagering on college sports would be allowed, bettors could not wagers on Georgia's sports teams.

Bettors would have to be located physically inside the state, a provision that would be enforced by geofencing technology.

As was the case during previous legislative hearings on legalizing gambling, the sports betting proposal drew opposition from representatives of faith-based groups.

Mike Griffin, representing the Georgia Baptist Mission Board, said online sports betting, which can be accessed through the convenience of a cellphone, is particularly prone to attracting problem gamblers.

'The majority of people who gamble are responsible' he said. 'It's the irresponsible people who contribute the most money.'

Cowsert said the legislation includes provisions to discourage addictive gambling. It would limit bettors to spending no more than $2,500 a month and prohibit sportsbooks from extending credit to bettors, he said.

Sen. Jeff Mullis, R-Chickamauga, argued sports betting is already taking place illegally in Georgia, but the state isn't benefitting because it can't be taxed.

'This puts structure in it … [and] revenue that goes to important uses,' he said. 'The money goes to a good cause. Right now, it goes to the bookie.'

The constitutional amendment and enabling bill now head to the Senate Rules Committee to schedule votes on the Senate floor.

Whether it's the Falcons, Bulldogs, Hawks, Braves, Yellow Jackets, or another popular GA sports team, it's clear that residents of the Peach State love their sports. And with sports-loving comes the inevitable love of betting on sports. If you're here looking to get into the action, you've come to the right place. Our team of talented experts has put together a list of the current best Georgia sports betting sites servicing residents and guests of your state.

Which One of These Georgia Sports Betting Sites is Best for Me?

Using this resource to find the best Georgia sports betting sites for you is already a positive first step. By choosing any of the options listed above, you know you're getting a trusted and safe experience. But you still need to pick out the option that is best for you.

Here are a few things GA bettors should consider when selecting the right fit for their real money sports betting needs:

• Ensure they cover the GA sports you're interested in betting
• Check to make sure they have the types of bets you like to make
• Select a betting app or site with live betting if that's important to you
• Join multiple GA betting sites if you plan on line shopping
• Look for an app or site that has the deposit and withdrawal methods you want to use
• Realize you can always change sites in the future if you don't like your first choice

Criteria That Sports Betting Sites in Georgia Need to Meet

• Safe and fast paying banking options
• Quality customer support 24/7
• Variety of sports to bet on

Sadly, it's a common practice on the web for reviews to be biased toward online sportsbooks. Many reviewers allow sites to buy better recommendations or they tend to recommend sites they're friends with. Not here. TheSportsGeek cares about one thing—ensuring you have the exact online sports betting experience you're looking for.

To meet this goal, we commission teams of experts to dive through every inch of an online sportsbook. Additionally, we recheck the sites we recommend regularly ensuring continuous quality.

Want a taste of what we think are the most important factors? Here are three major reasons we love these Georgia sports betting sites.

1. Extensive Banking Options That Pay Fast

Online betting is 100% about convenience. The experience loses all convenience if the banking method (making deposits and cashing out winnings) is slow or an arduous process. All of the Georgia betting sites you'll find here have user-friendly, fast banking options.

2. Quality Customer Support 24/7

When you need help with anything, you should be able to get help. None of the betting sites listed here farm out their customer service to the lowest bidder. You'll have plenty of ways to reach support that is available 24/7/365, fluent in English, and empowered to offer the help you need.

3. Incredible Betting Flexibility With GA Sports and Worldwide Options

Recreational and professional sports bettors (and aspiring professionals) want and need to have betting flexibility. Anytime you are limited on wagering choices, you run the risk of losing out on a hot tip or equity. Every one of these Georgia sports betting sites has the options needed to turn a profit and have the fun you're looking for.

Legality of Using Georgia Online Betting Sites

A big question that new bettors always have is whether or not gambling and online sportsbooks are legal in their state. When it comes to gambling or sports betting in person in GA, your options are limited. GA does have a massive state-run lottery system, but they do not have any brick and mortar casinos or books you can go to.

While you can't hop in your truck and head to the local sportsbook, it does not mean you're out of luck. A recent federal law was passed, paving the way for the full expansion and regulation of online sportsbooks by each state individually. While Georgia has not pressed forward with clearly laying out the particulars, you still have plenty of top GA sports betting sites to choose from for real money action.

All of the options we've recommended here for betting in Georgia have been servicing residents of the state for years or decades without any issues to players. One important thing to keep in mind is that you are still subject to paying taxes on any sizeable winnings from these books, even though they aren't based within the state.

Additionally, if you leave the state and bet online or in a brick and mortar casino (this includes Vegas), you're also still required to pay taxes on winnings. Sure, most people don't like paying taxes, but winning is a good problem to have when it comes to betting on sports.

How Quickly Will Georgia Sports Betting Sites Pay Out Winnings?

The average wait time to get paid after a payment has been processed from Georgia online betting sites is between a few hours and five business days. How to make money in slot machine. The only major exception to this range is if you choose payment by check, which takes a little longer to be delivered via a courier.

Payout times from Georgia online betting sites can vary based on:

• The cashout method you choose
• How quickly you fill out the necessary paperwork
• Current cashout volume
• The size of your cashout (for security purposes)

Thankfully, if you stick to the trusted online sportsbooks we recommend, you'll have zero problems getting paid quickly. Part of the fun of betting on sports is the adrenaline rush, but a bigger part of the fun is spending your winnings!

Different books will have different cashout options for you to choose from. We don't recommend any option unless they have multiple safe, high-quality, and properly implemented options to choose from. Some of the most popular cashout options you'll see when online betting in Georgia include:

• Money services (like Western Union)

Can I Bet on My Favorite Georgia Teams? What About Other Teams?

Is It Legal To Bet On Sports In Georgia

When it comes to the best sports betting sites in Georgia, flexibility is the name of the game. Not only will you be able to bet on your favorite local teams, but you'll also be able to bet on teams from all over the country and from all over the world. Yes, these GA sports betting sites cater to residents of your state, but they also serve customers in other parts of the country, which means extensive action on bigger and smaller sports and events.

Best Georgia Sports Teams to Bet on:

How To Bet On Sports In Georgia Lottery

• Atlanta Blaze
• Atlanta Braves
• Atlanta Dream
• Atlanta Falcons
• Atlanta Hawks
• Atlanta United
• Columbus Lions
• College Park Skyhawks
• Georgia Bulldogs (NCAA)
• Georgia Southern Eagles (NCAA)
• Georgia State Panthers (NCAA)
• Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (NCAA)
• Georgia Swarm
• Kennesaw State Owls (NCAA)
• Mercer Bears (NCAA)

Can I Bet on Sports From My iPhone or Android in Georgia?

Yes! One of the major features we look for when selecting the top Georgia sports betting sites is whether they offer the ability to bet on the go. In the past, this used to be a bonus feature, but we now view it as a requirement for a recommendation. All of these GA sports betting sites offer either a dedicated app (that you download from the app store) or a mobile-friendly website that works on all devices without the need for a download.

Start Betting Real Money on Sports in Georgia

How To Place Sports Bet

Getting started only takes a few clicks and a few minutes. The top Georgia sports betting sites have streamlined the sign-up process to get you into the action faster than ever. Select an option from the top of the page from your computer, phone, or tablet to get started.

How To Bet On Sports

Once there, you'll create a user account (it takes about five minutes). After that's done, make your first deposit and head over to the sportsbook to make your first bet! All in all, you should be making your first bet within about 10 to 15 minutes max!