---
title: O.C.G.A. § 16-12-21. Gambling.
collection: code
id: 16-12-21
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 16-12-21 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/16-12-21
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/16-12-21.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/16-12-21/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/docs/default-source/joint-features-document-library/t16-ch12-17-(v14b)-2024-pdf.pdf?sfvrsn=a591fa7b_0#page=46
date: 2025
status: active
corpus_version: 2025-supplement-89aa39ab3c68
license: CC0-1.0
publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice.
up: https://georgiacommons.org/code/16-12.md
previous: https://georgiacommons.org/code/16-12-20.md
next: https://georgiacommons.org/code/16-12-22.md
index: https://georgiacommons.org/code/index.md
version: the only printed version
in_force: true
current_through: Including Acts of the 2025 Regular Session of the General Assembly
heading_path: CRIMES AND OFFENSES / OFFENSES AGAINST PUBLIC HEALTH AND MORALS / GAMBLING AND RELATED OFFENSES / GAMBLING
---

# O.C.G.A. § 16-12-21. Gambling.

(a) A person commits the offense of gambling when he:

(1) Makes a bet upon the partial or final result of any game or contest or upon the performance of any participant in such game or contest;

(2) Makes a bet upon the result of any political nomination, appointment, or election or upon the degree of success of any nominee, appointee, or candidate; or

(3) Plays and bets for money or other thing of value at any game played with cards, dice, or balls.

(b) A person who commits the offense of gambling shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.

## History

Laws 1847, Cobb’s 1851 Digest, pp. 819, 820.; Ga. L. 1859, p. 59, § 1; Code 1863, § 4425; Ga. L. 1865-66, p. 233, § 2; Code 1868, § 4466; Code 1873, § 4541; Code 1882, § 4541; Penal Code 1895, § 401; Penal Code 1910, § 392; Code 1933, § 26-6404; Code 1933, § 26-2702, enacted by Ga. L. 1968, p. 1249, § 1; Ga. L. 1970, p. 690, § 1.

## Cross References

Void status of gambling contracts, § 13-8-3.

Operation of bona fide coin operated amusement machine businesses, § 50-27-70 et seq.

Parent’s right of action against person playing and betting at game of chance with minor child for money or other value, § 51-1-18.

## Law Reviews

For note discussing organized crime in Georgia with respect to the application of state gambling laws, and suggesting proposals for combatting organized crime, see 7 Ga. St. B.J. 124 (1970).

For article, “Misdemeanor Sentencing in Georgia,” see 7 Ga. St. B.J. 8 (2001).