Georgia CommonsHR 450: General Assembly; authorize sports betting in Georgia; provide by law - CA
Last action March 6, 2026 · House Third Reading Lost
House Resolution 450 would ask Georgia voters to amend the state constitution to legalize sports betting, letting the General Assembly regulate it and directing tax proceeds mainly to pre-kindergarten programs, HOPE-related education funding, and gambling addiction services.
The summaries below were written by an AI model (claude-sonnet-5) from the text of the resolution and are not part of it. Quote the text, not the summary. The stored text is the Introduced version, the latest LegiScan holds.
In plain language
Georgia's constitution currently bans all forms of sports betting, along with pari-mutuel betting and casino gambling, except for the state lottery and nonprofit bingo and raffles. This resolution proposes a constitutional amendment that would let the General Assembly pass laws to legalize and regulate sports betting in Georgia. The amendment creates a new 'Georgia Sports Betting Proceeds Trust Fund' to hold tax revenue from sports betting. Of the first $150 million collected each year, 15 percent would go to gambling addiction prevention and treatment programs, and 85 percent (along with everything above $150 million) would go to pre-kindergarten and other constitutionally listed education programs, including HOPE-style tuition assistance. The Georgia Lottery Corporation could also be authorized to participate in sports betting operations. Because this is a constitutional amendment, it must be approved by Georgia voters in a statewide referendum, with ballot language asking whether to authorize sports betting to fund pre-kindergarten and HOPE scholarships.
What the bill does
- Proposes amending Article I, Section II, Paragraph VIII of Georgia's constitution to remove sports betting from the current blanket prohibition on gambling.
- Authorizes the General Assembly to pass future laws creating and regulating a sports betting system in Georgia.
- Creates the 'Georgia Sports Betting Proceeds Trust Fund' to collect tax revenue from sports betting activities.
- Directs 15 percent of the first $150 million in annual trust fund proceeds to gambling addiction prevention and treatment programs.
- Directs 85 percent of the first $150 million and all proceeds above $150 million to pre-kindergarten and other education programs already funded by the lottery.
- Allows the Georgia Lottery Corporation to be authorized by future law to operate or participate in sports betting activities.
Who it affects
Georgia voters, who would decide the amendment in a referendum; the General Assembly, which would gain new lawmaking authority; the Georgia Lottery Corporation, which could enter sports betting; pre-kindergarten and HOPE scholarship programs; and people affected by gambling addiction, who would gain funded treatment programs.
Why it matters
If voters approve this amendment, Georgia could legalize and tax sports betting for the first time, creating a new funding stream for pre-kindergarten, HOPE-related education programs, and gambling addiction services, while also opening the door to expanded gambling activity in the state.
Key provisions
- Section 1 revises Paragraph VIII to strike the blanket ban on sports betting and add 'sports betting' to the exceptions the General Assembly may regulate by law.
- Section 1 subparagraph (d) lets the General Assembly regulate sports betting and requires tax proceeds to go into the new Georgia Sports Betting Proceeds Trust Fund.
- Section 1 subparagraph (e)(1)(A) allocates 15 percent of the first $150 million in yearly trust fund proceeds to gambling addiction prevention and assistance programs.
- Section 1 subparagraph (e)(1)(B) allocates 85 percent of the first $150 million, plus all proceeds above that amount, to pre-kindergarten and other education purposes listed in subparagraph (c).
- Section 1 subparagraph (f) allows the Georgia Lottery Corporation to be authorized by law to participate in sports betting activities.
- Section 2 requires the amendment to be submitted to voters, with specific ballot language asking whether to authorize sports betting to fund pre-kindergarten and HOPE scholarships.
From the bill
“The General Assembly may by law provide for the operation and regulation of sports betting activities.”
“Shall the Constitution of Georgia be amended so as to authorize sports ( ) NO betting in this state to provide additional funding for pre-kindergarten and HOPE scholarships?”
“Eighty-five percent of the first $150 million of such proceeds in a fiscal year and all such proceeds in excess of $150 million in a fiscal year shall be appropriated by the”
Status timeline
- House Third Reading Lost (House)
- House Third Readers (House)
- House Committee Favorably Reported (House)
- House Withdrawn, Recommitted (House)
- House Committee Favorably Reported (House)
- House Second Readers (House)
- House First Readers (House)
- House Hopper (House)
Sponsors
- Marcus Wiedower (R, HD-121)
- Charles Martin (R, HD-049)
- Al Williams (D, HD-168)
- Noel Williams (R, HD-148)
- Carolyn Hugley (D, HD-141)
- Matt Dubnik (R, HD-029)
Votes
- House voteMarch 6, 2026
63 yea, 98 nay (2 not voting, 14 absent)
Topics
- sports betting
- constitutional amendment
- gambling regulation
- pre-kindergarten funding
- HOPE scholarship