With upcoming legislative deadlines, the push to legalize sports betting in Georgia ramped up on Tuesday.'
Crossover day in the Georgia legislature is Monday, meaning a bill has to make its way through the chamber it was introduced by early next week or it will no longer be considered this session, which concludes at the end of March.'
SB 172, the enabling legislation for SR 140, passed through the Senate Regulated Industries and Utilities Committee on Tuesday evening. The legislation, introduced by Sen. Bill Cowsert, aims to legalize mobile and retail sports betting in Georgia through a constitutional amendment, which requires the support of two-thirds of the House and Senate before it is can be presented to voters as a simple majority ballot measure.'
Cowsert’s bill would allow for retail sports betting and an unlimited number of mobile sports betting licenses, with a minimum of six required. The legislation proposes a tax rate between 20-25% of adjusted gross revenue, depending on the type of bet generating the revenue. Cowsert estimates that legal sports betting could generate roughly $50 million in annual tax revenue for the state.'