Senate requires yet another swing at sport betting bill

Senate committee votes to add sports betting act to yet another bill

State lawmakers throw up a “Hail Mary” pass to legalize sports betting in Georgia. The Senate Financial Improvement and Tourism Committee voted to add the “Georgia Lottery Game of Sports Betting Act” inside yet another bill.

ATLANTA – State lawmakers throw up a “Hail Mary” pass to legalize sports betting in Georgia.

Thursday morning, the Georgia Senate Financial Improvement and Tourism Committee voted to add the “Georgia Lottery Game of Sports Betting Act” inside yet another bill.

State senators say this will assure that sports betting will be overseen, regulated, and presented by the Georgia Lottery Corporation. 

GEORGIA SENATE VOTES DOWN SECOND SPORTS BETTING BILL

Beneath the legislation, the Georgia Lottery Corporation would regulate sports betting and proceeds would go to education, just like present lottery games.

The bill initially added the language that would have designated the Southeast Georgia Soapbox Derby as the official soapbox derby of the state of Georgia, but the sponsor asked committee members to strip out her legislation rather.

“I never want my soap box derby to be linked with sports betting and I would request that you strip my language from this,” stated state Rep. Leesa Hagan, R-Lyons, addressing the session.

“Whoever came up with this concept just set sports betting back 5 years. When you hijack a soap box derby… just about every individual with was on the fence in the state of Georgia has just now picked a side of the fence,” stated state Rep. Mike Dugan, R-Carrollton, addressed the session.

The bill now heads to the Senate Guidelines Committee, which will make a decision if and when it goes to the Senate floor for a complete vote.