Georgia House committee approves sports betting bill
The Georgia House Committee on Economic Development & Tourism has passed the state’s Lottery Mobile Sports Wagering Integrity Act (House Bill 86), which would permit both retail and online sports betting.
The bill allows for the Georgia Lottery Corporation and its board of directors to provide oversight for sports wagering in the state, while also allowing for the regulation of wagers and the provision of certain requirements for bettors.
It proposes an amendment to Chapter 27 of Title 50 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to lottery for education, in order to include sports wagering within it.
Restrictions to be put in place include that bettors will be given the opportunity to restrict themselves from placing certain wagers, and resources for those suffering gambling-related harm will be provided.
The legislation will also provide for the collection and disposition of taxes, and of violations and penalties, and aims to repeal any conflicting laws to allow sports wagering to become legal.
HB86 was approved by the committee by a 20-6 majority and will now be discussed on the floor of the House in its third reading.
The bill was introduced in January 2021, sponsored by six Representatives. It calls for a $50,000 application fee and a $900,000 annual charge for licensees, and proposes a tax rate of 16% on adjusted gross sports wagering income.