Georgia Sports Betting Launch - Upcoming Sportsbooks & Promos

Georgia sports betting could soon be a reality. Efforts to legalize the industry came close in 2021 and, with lawmakers pushing for regulation, a bill could get over the line in 2022. Ahead of any legal changes, we’ve put together a detailed preview of what you can expect when online sports betting goes live in Georgia.

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Full Lowdown on Sports Betting in Georgia

Jump to:

• Latest Georgia Online Sports Betting Update
• Launch of Legalized Sports Betting in Georgia
• Timeline on Legal Sports Betting in Georgia
• Legal Sports Betting Options Currently Available in Georgia 
• Georgia Retail Betting Locations and Partnerships
• Top 5 Possible Georgia Betting Apps
• Will Georgia Sportsbooks Offer Pre-Live Bonuses?
• Which Sports Will be Allowed to Bet on?
• Top 3 Georgia Sports Teams to Bet On
• Why Choose Legalized Mobile Betting Over Offshore Sportsbooks
• How Online Betting in Georgia Will Work
• Online Betting Georgia Will Offer vs Other Legal States
• Responsible Sports Betting in Georgia

Feb. 27, 2023 | Steve Ruddock | @SteveRuddock

Georgia sports betting bill SB 57 recently stirred to life, as the Senate Economic Development Committee passed it by an 8-1 margin. SB 57 would legalize retail and mobile sports betting in Georgia without a constitutional amendment. Instead, SB 57 would put sports betting under the purview of the Georgia Lottery.

This would allow Georgia to legalize sports betting without bringing the matter before the voters. The bill still has a long way to go. Its next stop is the Senate Rules Committee. An affirmative vote there would put it in the queue for a vote on the Senate floor.

When will online sports betting be available in Georgia? With Georgia sports bill SB 57 passing recently, there is hope for sports betting to be legalized soon but there is still a long way to go, as the bill still needs to pass a vote on the Senate floor. If this happens soon, the first Georgia bookmakers will probably go live in 2023.

Georgia’s first attempts to legalize sports betting came in 2020. With neighboring Tennessee passing a sports betting bill in 2019, however, delays caused by COVID-19 saw the bill not make any headway for a while but we're starting to see some real progress with SB 57 being passed. Although, it is unlikely that sports betting will be legalized in Georgia until late 2023/2024 as this bill still has a long way to go.

Current Georgia Sports Gambling Laws and Bills

Georgia could soon be a gambling state. Georgia sports betting bill SB 57 was recently passed by the Senate Economic Development Committee. This bill would create two categories of licenses:

• Type 1 – Mobile sports betting licenses. No less than nine and no more than 18 will be made available.
• Type 2 – Retail sports betting licenses. No less than five and no more than 10 will be made available.

This would allow retail and mobile sports betting to be legalized without needing to be voted on by the public. However as it stand, sports betting is yet to be legalized and there aren’t any casinos. There were efforts to license two land-based casinos in 2017, but they didn’t even make it out of the gate. It’s a similar story with Daily Fantasy Sports and horse racing.

There are Fantasy Sports sites operating in the state, but it’s an unregulated (grey) market. Horse racing is also legal, but there are no tracks and pari-mutuel wagering is outlawed. Therefore, currently, the options for Georgia residents are limited.

How to Bet on Sports in Georgia

It’s not possible to bet on sports in Georgia at the moment. However, this could change soon with SB 57 recently being passed. Based on the fact that Georgia doesn’t have any land-based casinos, all bets will (probably) be made via desktop and mobile sports betting apps.

Projected GA Sports Betting Revenue and Taxes

The state would tax sports betting at 20%. Operators can deduct the federal excise tax from their taxable revenue but cannot deduct promotional credits. Retail licenses cost $100,000 annually. Mobile licenses come with a far heftier $1 million annual fee.

Previous sports betting bills have sought to tax operators 10% of their profits and charge a $900,000 licensing fee. These may not be the rates Georgia lawmakers settle on, but they’re likely to be somewhere around these figures.In terms of revenue potential, GA sports betting operators can look to the Volunteer State for inspiration. The Tennessee monthly sports betting handle is over $300 million. That equates to a monthly revenue of more than $20 million.

Sports betting hasn’t been legalized in Georgia, but the hope is that laws will pass in 2022. If this happens, you’ll be able to bet on football, baseball, and more in 2023.

Retail sportsbooks are unlikely in Georgia simply because there are no land-based GA casinos or racetracks. Therefore, if the likes of DraftKings go live in the state, they’ll be the lone entities that only offer online betting.

OK, so we’re looking forward to online sports betting in Georgia. We’re not sure exactly when the first apps will launch, but we’re confident one or more of these brands will go live once the market opens up:

FanDuel Sportsbook

This fantasy sports company has been making moves on the betting scene since 2018. With the help of experienced bookmakers via Flutter Entertainment, it’s created a well-rounded platform. As well as a $1,000 risk-free bet for new customers, FanDuel Sportsbook offers odds on over 15 sports, boosts, parlay insurance, live streams, and a lot more.

DraftKings Sportsbook

DraftKings Sportsbook is another fantasy sports brand that’s transitioned to betting in recent years. Like FanDuel Sportsbook, DraftKings has a welcome bonus worth up to $1,000. It also offers pre-event and live betting on 18 different sports, including football, basketball, soccer, and rugby. DraftKings Sportsbook also has a rewards scheme known as Dynasty, pool betting, and much more.

Fox Bet

Fox Bet online sportsbook offers new customers can get a risk-free bet up to $500, but there’s much more besides. Fox Bet has free picking contests where the winners get cash prizes. It also has tons of media content and tips from sports broadcasters.

BetMGM

BetMGM online sportsbook is strong in all areas. It gives newbies up to $1,000 in free bets. It offers secure software and safe deposit methods. It has tons of promotions and covers more sports than almost any other operator. Finally, it offers live streams and statistics. Basically, whichever angle you come at it from, BetMGM is a leading US sports betting operator.

Caesars Sports

Caesars Sports is using its experience in gaming to offer a high-quality online betting service. Its welcome bonus is worth over $1,000 and you can make hundreds of bets per day. One of its strongest assets is Caesars Rewards. This loyalty scheme is a great way to get free bets, comps, and exclusive gifts when you’re an active sports bettor.

Looking forward to legalized online sports wagering in Georgia? Here’s what you could expect to see at the first mobile betting platforms:

Range of Sports & Markets:

Every popular sport in Georgia will be covered by the state’s betting sites. That means you’ll find betting lines and offers for football, baseball, soccer, basketball, hockey, and many more GA sports favorites.

Competitive Odds:

All online sportsbooks in Georgia will be competing for your custom. That means they’ll be constantly monitoring each other’s stats to ensure they offer competitive lines, as well as odds boosts.

User-Friendly Software:

Simplicity is the foundation of any top-rated online sports betting apps. Georgia’s licensed betting operators will ensure you can place bets in just a few taps via your desktop computer or mobile.

Good Promotions & Bonuses:

Georgia sports betting sites will aim to give you as much added value as possible. As well as welcome sportsbook bonuses for new bettors, the online operators should offer free bets, loyalty rewards, parlay insurance, and risk-free bets.

Great Customer Support:

Every sportsbook that’s legal in Georgia will have to offer help and support. In fact, it will be a regulatory requirement. Therefore, you’ll be able to contact a member of the customer service team via email, phone, and/or live chat.

Easy Payment Options:

Sports betting is a real-money activity. Therefore, Georgia’s regulated sportsbooks have to offer secure, efficient ways for you to pay. This means letting you choose from a variety of reputable betting payment methods, such as Visa, MasterCard, and PayPal.

Live Betting and Streaming

Live streaming is a nice added extra that some sportsbooks offer, and some don’t. The good news is that brands such as BetMGM do offer live streams. Therefore, once efforts to legalize sports betting in Georgia are successful, you’ll be able to watch live events, including NFL and NBA games, for free via your computer and mobile.

How to Compare Georgia Sports Betting Apps

The market will be littered with options when lawmakers make betting legal in Georgia. Indeed, we’ve already previewed a few brands that could make their mark in the state. All of them are fantastic, but you may prefer one over another.

The best way to learn and, in turn, compare apps, is to read our Georgia online sportsbook reviews. These guides cover an operator’s bonuses, software, betting options, customer service and more. Once you’ve got all the relevant information, you can compare our recommended online sportsbooks and join the ones that take your fancy.

Yes, there will probably be some pre-live bonuses. We can’t say which operators will offer them or what they’ll be. However, we’ve seen early-registration offers from the LA sportsbooks. Therefore, we expect to see some similar deals when legal sports betting comes to Georgia.

Events Promotions

Big events always get some love from the oddsmakers. Therefore, if the Atlanta Hawks, the Georgia Bulldogs, or Georgia Southern Eagles et al are in action, there will be extra odds and offers available.

Loyalty Programs

There are certain online sportsbooks that have loyalty schemes. Although they’re more common in the casino world, the likes of BetMGM and DraftKings do give sports bettors points when they make real-money bets. These points can be exchanged for free bets, exclusive gifts, and special bonuses.

Likely Sign-Up Bonuses

Online sportsbooks will welcome new customers with open arms. From what we know about betting sites in other states, you can expect to see deals containing free bets, deposit matches, risk-free bets, and more.

Sports bettors in Georgia will be well catered for. All of the world’s top sports will be covered. This means you’ll get betting lines for the Atlanta Braves, the New England Patriots, Manchester City, and many more sporting greats. It’s also likely that you’ll be able to bet on college football teams in Georgia state.

Some of the sports Georgia bettors can look forward to are:

• Football (NFL and NCAA)
• Basketball (NBA and NCAA)
• Hockey (NHL)
• Baseball (MLB)
• Soccer
• Tennis
• MMA
• Boxing
• Aussie Rules
• Rugby
• Cricket
• Golf
• Snooker
• Darts

Types of Betting Markets

You’ll have plenty of ways to place wagers when online sportsbooks go live. The average minimum bet will be $0.01, and bookies will allow you to be as general or specific as you like. As well as pre-event bets, you’ll also be able to make live wagers while an event is in progress.

Some of the main wager types you’ll find online are:

• Moneyline Bets
• Spread Bets
• Totals Bets
• Points Bets
• Parlays
• Over/Under
• Props
• Time-Based Bets (e.g. first quarter/last quarter in basketball)
• Scoreline Bets
• Player/Team to Score

Is Fantasy Sports Betting Allowed?

Georgia is an unregulated Daily Fantasy Sports market. This means it’s neither legal nor illegal. Based on this fact, the likes of FanDuel DFS betting is available in the state. You won’t be breaking the law by using them, but it’s worth remembering that they are unregulated.

What about Horse Betting Online?

Pari-mutuel wagering on horse racing is illegal in Georgia. However, this could change if sports betting becomes legal in Georgia.

Georgia sports teams are present in every major US league. From football to lacrosse, the state is well represented. That’s great news for sports bettors because it means there will be plenty of local interest. We can’t go through all 19 pro and college teams. However, we can highlight three that are worth looking out for.

The Atlanta Braves

The Braves’ history stretches back to 1871. However, it wasn’t until 1966 that the franchise landed in Atlanta. They dominated the division throughout the nineties and into the noughties. This run included a third World Series title in 1995. The Atlanta Braves added a fourth World Series in 2021 with a win 4-2 series win over the Houston Astros.

The Atlanta Falcons

Georgia is a football state and the Falcons fly higher than the rest. Although they’ve never won the Super Bowl (as of 2021), they have reached two finals, including a heartbreaking overtime loss to the New England Patriots in 2017.

The Atlanta Hawks

The Atlanta Hawks are the NBA team based in Atlanta. The team can be traced back to when the Buffalo Bisons were established in 1946. They have won one NBA championship and have made four NBA Finals appearances.

Atlanta United FC

Established in 2014, Atlanta United is Atlanta's soccer club which competes in the MLS. This team is constantly growing in popularity, setting several league records for the highest match attendances. ATL UTD is also estimated to be the second most valuable club in the MLS.

We’re all waiting for online sports betting to launch in Georgia, but there’s no value in using offshore sites. These operators aren’t always regulated and, moreover, they’re not legal in Georgia. That’s the main reason not to use them. However, if you need a bit more convincing, here are a few reasons why you should always choose licensed online sports betting apps:

Legal Georgia sports betting operators:

To find the latest MLB betting lines, NBA odds, and a whole lot more, follow the steps below:

1. Wait for sports betting to launch in Georgia.
2. Read our GA sportsbook reviews and find your ideal site.
3. Use our special bonus code to activate an offer and register an account. We’ll update this page so you can get the latest Georgia sports betting promo codes.
4. Complete the registration process and verify your identity by sending in copies of your ID.
5. Fund your account with a deposit and use the sports menu to find the latest wagers.
6. Tap your desired bet, input your stake, and lock in the wager.

Note: you’ll need to be 21 or older and located within the state.

Georgia will almost certainly mirror what’s on offer in Tennessee. Not only is that the closest US sports betting state, but the market is also thriving. This means you’ll need to be 21 or older and located in the state to use local sportsbooks.

Additionally, all betting is likely to take place online and there won’t be any major restrictions with regards to pro and college sports betting. The only notable restriction might be that you can’t make live prop bets on college teams as this is something you can’t do in Tennessee.

States With Legalized Sports Betting

Sports betting might not be legal in GA right now, but it is in other US states. Indeed, if you’re traveling across the US and looking for some sporting action, here are the states that offer legal betting:

• Arizona
• Arkansas
• Colorado
• Connecticut
• Delaware
• Florida
• Illinois
• Indiana
• Iowa
• Louisiana
• Nevada
• New Hampshire
• New Jersey
• New York
• Michigan
• Mississippi
• Montana
• Oregon
• Pennsylvania
• Rhode Island
• South Dakota
• Tennessee
• Virginia
• Washington DC
• Washington
• West Virginia
• Wyoming

*Tribal casinos in North Carolina and New Mexico also offer sports betting, but there aren’t any state-wide regulations in place.

Sports betting should be fun. In fact, there’s a saying in the UK that goes like this: when the fun stops, stop. If you ever feel as though things are getting out of control, you can use a variety of responsible gambling tools. These tools are:

• Deposit Limits
• Betting Limits
• Account Timeouts (freeze your account for a certain period of time)
• Account Deletion (close your account and block yourself forever)
• Reality Checks (timers that tell you how long you’ve been online)
• Account History (see how much you’ve bet, won, and lost)
• Links to problem gambling charities in Georgia.