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- Sen. Billy Hickman (R-4) launched a sports activities betting invoice
- The invoice will enable the Georgia Lottery to control on-line sports activities betting
- Hickman can be concerned in a separate senate decision to legalize sports activities betting and on line casino gaming
A brand new Georgia on-line sports activities betting invoice has hit the senate.
Sen. Billy Hickman (R-4) launched SB 208, a invoice to legalize on-line sports activities betting in Georgia and permit the lottery to control the brand new type of gaming.
He launched the invoice on Feb. 20 and the laws has since been referred to the Georgia Senate regulated industries and utilities committee.
No Constitutional Modification Crucial
Hickman’s invoice seeks to legalize on-line sports activities betting within the Peach State with out the necessity for a constitutional modification.
Georgia lawmakers over the past a number of years have struggled with whether or not or not sports activities betting legalization requires a constitutional modification. A constitutional modification requires a heavier burden of passage, needing a two-thirds majority vote in each the Georgia Senate and Home of Representatives, adopted by voter approval in an election.
Hickman’s invoice will legalize on-line sports activities betting by means of solely a invoice, which solely requires a easy majority vote in each legislative chambers.
If accredited, the laws will enable the Georgia Lottery to control on-line sports activities betting. It could be taxed at a fee of 25% of adjusted sports activities betting revenues and operators would pay a $1.5 million annual price for a license. An software price of $100,000 can be required for an operator.
The Georgia Lottery will solely be allowed to concern as much as 18 on-line sports activities betting licenses. The next entities could be eligible for licenses within the state:
- 5 for Georgia skilled sports activities groups (Atlanta Hawks, Atlanta Falcons, Atlanta Braves, Atlanta United FC, and Atlanta Dream)
- One for Augusta Nationwide Golf Course
- One for the PGA Tour
- One for Atlanta Motor Speedway
- One for the Georgia Lottery Company
- Two for entities which were accredited within the state by the Nationwide Steeplechase Affiliation
The remaining seven licenses will likely be awarded by the Georgia Lottery to on-line sports activities betting suppliers following a public procurement course of.
It’s the second piece of sports activities betting laws to be launched within the state, and the primary to take action and not using a constitutional modification.
Senate Decision Requires Voter Approval
Apart from his launched piece of laws, Hickman can be a co-author on SR 131, which seeks to legalize sports activities betting and on line casino gaming within the state by means of a constitutional modification.
Sen. Carden Summers (R-13), Hickman, Sen. Brandon Seaside (R-21), and Sen. Lee Anderson (R-24) launched the decision earlier this month.
If accredited in each the Georgia Senate and Home of Representatives, state voters would have the ultimate say on legalization. Nonetheless, the decision would require a two-thirds majority in each the Home and Senate to be accredited.
The laws will enable for as much as eight on line casino licenses in Georgia. Sports activities betting license particulars, such because the variety of operators permits and the license prices, weren’t included within the first iteration of the decision.
The laws requires the creation of a Georgia Gaming Fee to control and license on line casino and sports activities betting gaming within the state.
If accredited by state voters, the decision would wish enacting laws to work out the main points of the state’s sports activities betting framework.
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