Georgia Gambling Laws – Important Regulations

The United States is not the most liberal country when it comes to gambling. While we may have heard stories about Las Vegas and Atlantic City, it makes sense to remember that the US is a large country. As such, attitudes towards gambling will vary widely across state lines. In fact, many states have draconian gambling laws, and Georgia is the perfect representation of that. This article will explore Georgia gambling laws and how they have shaped the local betting scene.

Gambling Laws in Georgia

As we delve into the complexities of Georgia gambling laws, we will discover a particular pattern in the state. Specifically, GA lawmakers are not particularly fond of the gaming industry. The state legislature has struck down multiple attempts to bring in any form of commercial gambling in Georgia. For a brief overview, here are the various gambling products and their respective legal status in the state:

As you can see, it must be hard to be a gambler in this state. The GA state government body has come down hard on most forms of gambling. Representatives have proven increasingly resistant to change, with any developments taking a long time to come into action.

Directly below, we will detail each major form of gambling and its current availability in Georgia. Moreover, we will also touch on important pieces of legislation that contribute to the overall situation.

Commercial Gambling in Georgia

When we think of gambling, perhaps the most common thing we picture is casino gaming. Large establishments with hundreds of slots and table games are all part of the common imagination. It is a thrilling sight that everyone should experience at some point in their lives. Unfortunately, none of that is allowed on account of the gambling laws in Georgia. The Georgia state gambling laws say:

(a) A person commits the offense of gambling when he:

(1) Makes a bet upon the partial or final result of any game or contest or upon the performance of any participant in such game or contest;

(2) Makes a bet upon the result of any political nomination, appointment, or election or upon the degree of success of any nominee, appointee, or candidate; or

(3) Plays and bets for money or other thing of value at any game played with cards, dice, or balls.

(b) A person who commits the offense of gambling shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.16-12-21, Georgia Code

The rules of roulette automatically exclude the game from legal gambling products in Georgia. While it is not a direct ban on casino gaming, the law covers just about everything that goes on a casino floor. As a result, even if you were to open a venue, you could not place any gambling games there, including poker. Furthermore, not only is gaming banned, but you will be guilty of a crime if you try to participate.

Of course, Georgia gambling laws also cover other forms of betting. Sports betting is also illegal under the GA Code. In this state, you are not allowed to organize any form of sports betting or to participate in one. Once again, the law doesn’t explicitly state that, but in effect, it prohibits the activity. Specifically, the GA Code says:

(a) A person who knowingly communicates information as to bets, betting odds, or changes in betting odds or who knowingly installs or maintains equipment for the transmission or receipt of such information with the intent to further gambling commits the offense of communicating gambling information.

(b) A person who commits the offense of communicating gambling information, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished by imprisonment for not less than one nor more than five years or by a fine not to exceed $5,000.00, or both.16-12-28, Georgia Code

Basically, all the important aspects of sports betting are forbidden, which in effect kills the scene. If you want to engage in any form of wagering, you will have to leave the state. Right now, there is no work-around, and GA gamblers have few legal gambling options at their disposal.

Charitable Gambling Laws in Georgia

While commercial gambling is frowned up in Georgia, gambling laws are rather lax when it comes to charitable gaming. In fact, this form of gambling seems to be the only acceptable way to wager money in this state.

Bingo is one of the few legal gambling products for GA players to enjoy. Therefore, it only makes sense for it to be incredibly popular in the state. Bingo was legalized in 1976 and can only be hosted for charity purposes. Moreover, there are some limitations on the prizes that organizers can offer. Specifically, they can’t exceed $1500 per day or $3000 per week.

We have to remember that bingo is a licensed activity, and only approved entities can host it. The state authorities are actively cracking down on unlicensed operations, and there are severe penalties reserved for such situations. Specifically:

(a) A person commits the offense of commercial gambling when he intentionally does any of the following acts:

…

(7) Conducts, advertises, operates, sets up, or promotes a bingo game without having a valid license to operate a bingo game as provided by law.

(b) A person who commits the offense of commercial gambling shall be guilty of a felony and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished by imprisonment for not less than one nor more than five years or by a fine not to exceed $20,000.00, or both.16-12-22, Georgia Code

Aside from bingo, Georgia residents also have access to the lottery. The GA lottery was established in 1992 following a constitutional amendment to the state constitution. It is operated by the local government. Georgia state gambling laws dictate that one-third of the revenue is used to fund education.

Right now, the Georgia lottery offers several draw games. Among them, we find some exclusives like Cash 3, Cash 4, Georgia Five, and Fantasy 5. Naturally, you can also try your luck at the Powerball and Mega Millions. The prizes vary from a couple of dollars to millions, depending on the game.

Georgia Online Gambling Laws

In regard to iGaming, the Georgia online gambling laws leave no room for interpretation. Much like you cannot gamble at retail locations, GA players cannot take part in online betting. It is as simple as that.

Still, there is hope. The US has experienced a liberalization of the online gambling market in recent years, following the example of New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Many states have opened up to certain forms of online gambling. Right now, certain politicians are calling for a regulated gambling scene in Georgia. This would require an overhaul of the Georgia gambling law.

However, we would like to stress just how resistant Georgia is on this matter. In 2012, there was a project to bring land-based casino gaming to the state. It died in the final stages when the Governor refused to sign the bill, stating that he would like more public support before making the change. Since then, no real progress has happened. If this is anything to go by, it will take a while before we see GA gaming sites in our best US online casinos list.

Georgia Legal Gambling Age

Before you can access the limited selection of gambling products in Georgia, you have to be at least 18 years old. This is lower than the average gambling age in the US, which is 21 years old. Being the minimum legal age will allow you to play both bingo and the lottery. You may need to show some ID to the employees to be allowed to participate.

FAQ About Georgia Gambling Laws

If you still have questions about the topic, please have a look at the FAQ section below. We have done our best to compress the most important bits from the article above. We hope you will fully understand the subject at hand after reading everything we have to say.

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