Sports Betting May Appear on November Ballot in Georgia
LISTEN TO THIS ARTICLE:Georgia’s Senate has approved the idea of an amendment to the state constitution that would permit sports betting within the state, which means that there may be a referendum on the issue in November.
The Senate passed the decision by 41 votes to 12, showing that there is growing support for the legalization of sports betting within the state. There have been a number of setbacks along the road to this point, but attitudes at last seem to be changing.
Gambling Tax to Support Education and Social Initiatives
The proposed measures contain strict regulations that would see revenue go towards education and various social initiatives. The majority of tax revenue, 80%, would help fund prekindergarten programs and college scholarships.
A further 15% of the tax revenue would go to helping those struggling with gambling addiction and the remaining 5% would help fund large sporting events.
However, there is still a long way to go before sports betting is legalized in Georgia. First, the proposal would need to secure a two-thirds majority in the Georgia House of Representatives, where there are numerous opponents who believe that legalized gambling would have an adverse effect on society. It would then have to receive the support of the public in November’s vote.
Georgia Vote to Influence Other States
While the usual arguments take place in Georgia about the effects of legalizing sports betting, including the economic benefits and the potential harms it will cause, what happens in the state could have wider repercussions. So far 38 US states have legalized sports betting but there are a number still discussing the issue, such as Mississippi and Oklahoma, and they are likely keeping a close eye on developments in Georgia.
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