Georgia Gambling Laws: What’s Legal and What’s Not

Georgia lawmakers won’t regulate online gambling anytime soon, but law enforcement doesn’t prosecute individual residents who play online for real money.

The Georgia Constitution make owning a gambling machine illegal, while distributing gaming-related equipment is illegal. Anyone who runs an unlicensed gaming den or online gambling website in Georgia would face prosecution. That’s for operators, though.

Georgia residents can play at offshore casinos, sportsbooks, and poker sites without fear of prosecution. They play without consumer protections, so Georgians must read honest casino reviews and pick a safe and trusted casino site.

We grade Georgia based casinos on safety, trust, good bonuses, US-friendly payment methods, fun games, and helpful customer service. Our reviewers are enthusiasts who’ve played at the casino sites we recommend (and many we don’t recommend).

Real money online gamblers from Georgia deposit their money in offshore gaming sites, so they’ll need to make a wise choice. Even with our recommended sites, we present the pros and cons of the sites. Our readers choose a casino with an insider’s view of the US gaming market.

Since 2014, Georgia state lawmakers have proposed several casino bills. Casino moguls like the late-Sheldon Adelson (Las Vegas Sands Corp) and Jim Murren (former CEO of MGM Resorts) toured Atlanta, Savannah, and Athens for prospective brick-and-mortar casino sites. Adelson even shifted his lobbying efforts from Florida to Georgia at one point.

Each of these bills failed in the Georgia legislature, despite promises that casinos would help fund the HOPE Scholarship Fund. At one point, it was suggested that gaming decisions be devolved upon individual Georgia counties — like alcohol legislation was. None of these ideas worked, so Georgia land-based casinos seem unlikely for the time being.

Sports betting is a different matter. As of 2021, 11 different gambling bills involving sports betting exist in the Georgia legislature. A couple gained traction in early 2021.

House Bill 86 passed out of the House Economic Development and Tourism Committee on February 3 by a 20-6 vote. Rep. Ron Stephens (R-Savannah), who supports the bill, said HB 86 would generate $40 million a year for the Georgia Lottery.

In March 2021, the Georgia Senate passed a bill that would fund college scholarships, rural broadband, and health care programs. It’s a departure from the typical gambling bill, which earmarks funds for the HOPE Scholarship and Pre-K programs. State Sen. Jeff Mullis (R-Chickamauga) is an outspoken supporter of the bill. The matter is complicated, though.

For instance, State Sen. Bill Cowsert (R-Athens) says that all bettors end up losers, though he supports the bill. Giving his reasoning, Cowsert said gambling is “almost a part of southern culture”.

Despite the support, the Georgia House rejected sports betting in a floor vote on March 21, 2021.

The Georgia state lottery is a leader among US lottery games. It funds the HOPE Scholarship Fund, a popular postsecondary education program. In fact, the HOPE Scholarship became a model for other states’ lottery funds, including the South Carolina Education Lottery. Former Georgia lottery officials left to lead the Florida Lottery and the Tennessee Lottery.

Georgia joined the Mega Millions multi-state lottery association in 1996 and the Powerball lottery in 2010. In 2012, Georgia approved online lottery ticket sales. This made Georgia an unlikely ally of online gambling when the US DOJ tried to ban online gambling in 2019.

Georgia allows charitable bingo gambling and charity raffles. Nonprofit organizations like police, fire, veterans, and church groups can host bingo nights and raffles.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation oversees charitable gambling.

At various times, casino cruise ships sailed out of Brunswick (near Savannah). These ships sail beyond the 3-mile line into international waters off the coast of Georgia, where casino gambling is legal. Casino cruises typically host slot machines and a few table games.

The Emerald Princess Casino sailed out of Brunswick a few years ago. Players buy passage on the casino cruise, which stays out at sea for a set number of hours.