Atlanta

Could sports gambling become a reality in Georgia? New poll shows overwhelming support for it

ATLANTA — Sportsbooks like Draft Kings are betting that the Georgia Bulldogs will win on Monday.

Sports betting is not legal in Georgia, but there is a new push to change that in the next legislative year.

If it passed, you could go to a Bulldogs game, or a Falcons game, and place a bet on your phone. All the revenue would go to the HOPE scholarship.

New polling suggests most Georgians favor legalizing sports betting -- but not all.

In the very shadow of Georgia State’s Center Parc Stadium, Will Silvernagel runs his how Crispy Express restaurant.

He thinks legalizing sports wagering is as good an idea as crispy fried chicken.

“I think they should do it. Hopefully, some of that goes back to the schools and the communities. I think it’s great,” Silvernagel said.

Marshal Guest is the senior vice president for public policy at the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce. They’re pushing for this legislation along with every professional sports team in Atlanta.

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“The lottery is really the entity that Georgians trust to administer this program,” Guest said.

He says Georgians are already spending billions on illegal gambling, so why not legalize and direct that revenue to the HOPE scholarship?

They’d leave the details to Georgia lawmakers.

“Of course, we trust their wisdom to do this the right way that benefits Georgia, so this is a win for Georgia, for Georgia residents and Georgia students, our future workforce,” Guest said.

Not so fast says Faith and Freedom Coalition spokesperson Mack Parnell.

“When it comes to sports gambling, it’s a bad bet for Georgia,” Parnell said.

He told Channel 2′s Richard Elliot that legalized gambling of any kind just spells trouble for Georgia, from bankruptcies to divorce, to mental health issues.

He said Georgia is already the No. 1 state in which to do business, so it doesn’t need the gambling business.

“There are so many pressing issues that have a more direct impact, positive impact on Georgia families and hardworking Georgians than expanding gambling in any sense,” Parnell said.

A sports gambling bill has come up before at the General Assembly and always failed.

But this time, some lawmakers believe a new bill has a real chance, especially with that new polling showing a majority of Georgians think it’s time.

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