Senate committee votes to add sports betting bill to second bill
State lawmakers are throwing the Hail Mary pass to legalize sports betting in Georgia. The Senate Financial Improvement and Tourism Committee voted to add the “Georgia Lottery Sports Betting Act” to a different bill.
ATLANTA – State lawmakers are throwing the Hail Mary pass to legalize sports betting in Georgia.
On Thursday morning, the Georgia Senate Financial Improvement and Tourism Committee voted to add the “Georgia Lottery Sports Betting Act” to a different bill.
State senators say this will make sure that sports betting will be overseen, regulated and presented by the Georgia Lottery Corporation.
GEORGIA SENATE VOTES FOR SECOND SPORTS BETTING
Below the bill, the Georgia Lottery Corporation would regulate sports betting and the proceeds would go to education, just like present lottery games.
The bill initially added language that would have designated the Southeast Georgia Soap Box Derby as the official Georgia State Soap Box Derby, but the sponsor asked committee members to take away her bill as an alternative.
“I do not want my soapbox derby to be connected with sports betting, and I would ask that you take my language out of this,” mentioned state Rep. Leesa Hagan, R-Lyons, addressing the session.
“Whoever came up with this thought just set sports betting back 5 years.” When you hijack soapbox derbies … each individual they’ve been on the fence with in the state of Georgia just picked a side of the fence,” state Rep. Mike Dugan, R-Carrollton, addressed the session.
The bill now goes to the Senate Guidelines Committee, which will choose if and when it goes to the Senate for a complete vote.