Can Sports Betting Play a Role in the Georgia Governor Race?

Stacey Abrams is running for governor in Georgia. She wants to legalize and tax online sports betting as a way to fund education aid and technical college. Her opponent, Republican Gov. Brian Kemp, has no position on it. Some polls show sports gambling is popular with the general public. The current poll shows Kemp is ahead of Abrams by 6.6 points. It could be wider. There is already a robust gambling market in the state. Sports betting in Virginia has produced more than $5 billion in revenue. In 2020 Atlanta Journal-Constitution poll, 57% of Georgia voters supported legalizing sports betters.

The constitutional amendment required to bring sports betting to Georgia would have to be approved by two-thirds of the Georgia House of Representatives and Senate and then by a majority of voters. The timing of gubernatorial election could play a role.