SB 57, a bill to legalize sports betting in Georgia without a constitutional amendment, failed to pass through the state Senate on Thursday. The vote on the bill’s passage received 37 “no” votes and 19 “yes” votes.
The moral integrity of mobile sports betting and the inclusion of horse racing language were focal points of opposition to the bill. It would have allowed legal betting on fixed-odds horse racing, which Sen. Billy Hickman believes would have created a thriving horse racing industry in the state.
“This will create over 8,500 jobs, according to an economic impact study, and have over a $1 billion economic impact” Hickman said.'