Georgia Republicans Propose Legislation For Commercial Casinos

Republican Support

Georgia Sen. Brandon Beach mentioned that the state has invested in making the state more attractive to big sports events.

Beach believes that if a commercial casino that offered sports betting was opened, it could help bring in more revenue and alleviate the state’s financial strain by making the state more enticing to professional and college sports.

“You can’t keep going back to the well,” Beach said. “You’ve got to have a little bit of money for the state to put in the game. That’s one of the reasons I’ve been pushing casino gaming. I think that’d be a nice way to fund some of that.”

Beach, along with three other Senate Republicans, have filed legislation that would allow voters to decide if they want to amend the Georgia Constitution. This would expand from the lottery and charitable games to Vegas-like machines, table games, and sports betting.

Additionally, select sweepstakes casinos can be accessed.

Number of Casinos

In 2025, Georgia is one of the least forgiving states when it comes to gambling with Alaska, Hawaii, and Utah being the other more restrictive states.

Now, Sens. Beach, Lee Anderson, and Billy Hickman are putting forth legislation, Senate Resolution 131, that would be voted on in the 2026 election.

This bill would approve “at least” eight retail casinos and sports betting. As for revenue, there would be a 20% tax.

The tax money would be used for a new account, the Georgia Gaming Proceeds Funds.

The first $500 million, after 5% if set aside for problem gambling programs, would be evenly split to each county.

Then, when counties get $2 billion in gaming money, the taxes would go to the General Assembly “for any purpose.”

Chances of This Happening

Georgia’s religious organizations will likely oppose these new forms of gambling quite heavily despite public polling showing a change in opinion on sports betting in particular.

There have even been reports from GeoComply showing an uptick in attempts to engage in sports betting.

There have been attempts in the past to put this before voters, but it has failed.