New Poll Shows Majority of Voters Support Georgia Sports Betting Legalization

A new poll shows that voters in The Peach State support the legalization of Georgia sports betting. 

Predictable? Sure. Sports betting in the United States is more popular than ever. Thirty-nine states, as well as the District of Columbia, have legalized it in some form. And yet, sports betting in Georgia remains illegal. Not only that, but officials remain reticent to press the issue. Legislation has been proposed in the past. It has even received plenty of support in the George House of Representatives. But traction in the Senate is hard to come by. That’s a problem. The bar for constitutional amendments in Georgia is incredibly high. Measures require two-thirds support from the general assembly. So simply proposing fringe initiatives won’t cut it.

This is most likely why the pushes for Georgia sports betting so far skew toward tepid and unconvincing. But could the latest poll change that?

Nearly Two-Thirds of Voting Population Approve of Georgia Sports Betting Legalization

Here are the full details on the recent Georgia sports betting poll, courtesy of Legal Sports Report:

“A new poll released recently by the University of Georgia and Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce found that 63 percent of voters want legal Georgia sports betting. According to the poll, 63 percent of all voters want legalized sports betting, with 72.9 percent of males in favor of legalization. Women clocked in at 54.2 percent. Just under 24 percent of respondents oppose legalization. The 30-44 age bracket weighed in, with 75.4 percent wanting legalization, followed by the 45-64 age group at 62.9 percent. 

Approximately 65 percent of both Republicans and Democrats support legalization. Last year, a Senate bill was backed by members of both parties. 

“More than 54 percent of voters would be more likely to support legalization if it meant fewer Georgians crossed state lines or used offshore sportsbooks to wager. Nearly 80 percent of Georgians are more likely to support sports betting if all revenue goes to educational programs. Approximately 78 percent of voters would prefer to decide on legalization at the polls rather than leave it in the legislature’s hands. Some lawmakers believe gambling expansion does require a constitutional amendment, which would require a public referendum.”

This is a treasure trove of information. And it provides valuable insight into how Georgia sports betting efforts should proceed. Read on to check out our most important takeaways and observations after poring over this data.

The Legalization of Sports Betting in The Peach State will Almost Assuredly Require a Constitutional Amendment 

Certain state officials argue that Georgia sports betting does not require a constitutional amendment. In theory, they are not wrong. The legalization of sports betting in the United States has not always required the voting population to weigh in.

Look no further than sports betting in Florida as proof. The same goes for sports betting in Wisconsin. Generally speaking, though, states seek the input of the voting population. This is true even when legalization comes by slightly unconventional methods.

Consider the recent legalization of sports betting in Missouri. After multiple measures failed to get passed the Senate, a coalition backed by pro sports teams in the market circumvented the process using a petition with signatures from the voting population. Once that was verified, the initiative, known as Amendment 2, then appeared on the 2024 electoral ballot. Voters ended up approving it (by a narrow margin).

It says a great deal that 78 percent of Georgians want the chance to vote on a sports betting bill themselves. That should resonate with policymakers who think the process is better off left to the House and Senate alone.

Missouri May Actually Provide a Roadmap to Georgia Sports Betting

Speaking of Missouri sports betting, The Show Me State may serve as inspiration for the next push in Georgia. We are not necessarily talking about a petition, either—though, this is technically possible.

Instead, we are referring to the nearly 80 percent of residents in The Peach State who are more likely to support sports betting if proceeds go directly towards educational initiatives. To be sure, pretty much every state divides up sports betting revenue among multiple programs. In many cases, though, the vast majority go to educational devices.

This is how Missouri sports betting helped sway (just enough) voter approval. In fact, the coalition that backed the initiative called themselves Winning for Missouri Education. 

Granted, the legitimacy of these claims, and others like it, are under constant scrutiny. The push for sports betting in California three years ago focused on how legalization would benefit educational initiatives. However, counter-campaigning from local tribes sought to prove those claims were misleading. In doing so, they lowered the overall approval rating of the California sports betting bill funded by online sportsbooks in the United States.

Still, when done with authenticity, spotlighting how sports betting can help educational funding goes a long way. If nothing else, this focus helps those on the fence reconcile with the downsides attached to sports wagering. To that end, any Georgia sports betting initiative in 2025 is more likely to garner voter support if it emphasizes funding for educational programs.

Of course, voter approval only goes so far. Initiatives must first make it past the supermajority of both the House and Senate. And if previous Georgia sports betting attempts are any indication, The Peach State has a long way to go here.

Take a look at this list of the top online sportsbooks so you can find one that works for all of your sports betting needs: