Georgia House Committee Faces Time Crunch in Deciding on Online Betting Legalization

The Georgia House Higher Education Committee encountered a time crunch as it failed to reach a vote on a series of bills aimed at legalizing mobile sports betting within the state. With the meeting scheduled to conclude on Thursday evening, the committee will convene for just two hours before the general session, leaving a mere 11 hours for authorities to finalize the decision.

Senator Bill Cowsert intends to propose an amendment that would designate 15% of tax revenues towards public awareness initiatives aimed at promoting responsible gaming practices. Currently, there are no dedicated funds allocated for such programs within the constitutional amendment.

Should the amendment be approved, Georgia would boast the highest tax rate in the United States, equating to $150 thousand per $1 million in tax revenue generated.

Meanwhile, committee member Sam Park plans to introduce an amendment advocating for 5% of tax revenues to be directed towards gaming programs. The remaining funds would be allocated to support early childhood education initiatives and aid individuals earning below the state average income.

With the two amendments offering competing priorities, lawmakers face the challenging task of selecting the direction they wish to pursue.