Is online sports betting on the horizon in Georgia?

ATLANTA – Georgia voters may quickly resolve whether or not to allow online sports betting in the Peach State. Some state lawmakers are making a last push to cross a invoice to place the problem on the poll in November. 

Republican state Rep. Marcus Wiedower instructed FOX 5’s Deidra Dukes the state may soak up as a lot as $150 million in income in simply the primary yr if on-line sports activities betting was legalized in Georgia. 

“They’re putting bets on their telephone, whether or not that is, you realize, Falcons to win by 12 or regardless of the wager could also be, however they’re putting these bets proper now, within the unlawful market,” Wiedower defined. “We’re merely making an attempt to get that into the authorized market the place we’re capturing these tax {dollars} providing more cash to go to education, in addition to protections across the individuals which might be participating on this proper now.” 

Opposition to on-line sports activities playing

The Georgia Baptist Mission Board and different faith-based organizations oppose the measure. 

“The general consequence of that is simply way more detrimental than the optimistic issues,” stated Georgia Baptist Mission Board spokesman Mike Griffin. 

Griffin stated permitting sports activities betting in Georgia would result in an increase in playing dependancy, mental health disaster and can be detrimental to the economic system as extra persons are drawn to the exercise. 

He’s urging state lawmakers to reject the measure. 

“Playing is detrimental,” Griffin stated. “Most likely probably the most addictive type of playing now’s your sports activities betting as a result of it is what I name state-sponsored predatory playing. That is the place you are being focused.” 

With lower than every week left within the legislative session, Wiedower hopes to hold the net sports activities betting invoice over the end line earlier than the clock runs out.

“Hopefully get that on the poll in November,” Wiedower defined. “And let Georgians resolve whether or not or not they wish to have sports activities betting, cellular sports activities betting.”