Online Gambling in Georgia - Casino & Sports Betting

Georgia, also known as The Peach State, is a hub of agriculture. Georgia was the last of the thirteen British colonies, and it was originally meant to be a home for London’s “worthy poor,” meaning the homeless and those in a great amount of debt.

This never came to fruition, though, and Georgia is now home to plentiful crops, farms, and businesses.

There are only a few options for legal gambling in Georgia, so it is important that you stay aware of the laws for whichever type of gambling you prefer. Online Casinos and Online Sportsbooks are not legal. Ignorance is not an excuse according to the law. If you live in Georgia and want to gamble, you can do so through the lottery, bingo, and charitable raffles. Hopefully, this quenches your thirst for the game!

Georgia maintains one of the most restrictive gambling laws in the U.S. Only the state lottery, charitable raffles, and bingo are permitted. All other forms—such as commercial casinos, online gambling, sports betting, pari‑mutuel wagering, and slot machines—remain illegal, as specified in the Official Code of Georgia Annotated (O.C.G.A.). Enforcement falls under statutes in Title 16 (Criminal Offenses) and Title 50 (State Government), with oversight by local sheriffs and the Georgia Lottery Corporation.

Online Casinos

Online real‑money casino gaming (slots, table games, poker) is illegal in Georgia. The state’s gambling statutes define wagering on such games as a misdemeanor unless explicitly permitted, which has not occurred.

• Status: Illegal
• Date of Authorization: N/A
• Law: N/A
• Official Link: N/A
  

Online Sports Betting

Sports betting remains illegal in Georgia. Bills introduced (e.g., SB 386, SB 538) have failed to pass, and no constitutional amendment has been enacted to authorize sports wagering.

• Status: Illegal
• Date of Authorization: N/A
• Law: O.C.G.A. § 16‑12‑21 et seq.
• Official Link: https://law.justia.com/codes/georgia/2022/title-16/chapter-12/article-2/part-1/section-16-12-21/
  

Physical Casinos

Commercial casinos and gaming venues are illegal in Georgia. The Penal Code prohibits operation, promotion, and possession of gambling devices, and no framework exists for licensing casino operations.

• Status: Illegal
• Date of Authorization: N/A
• Law: O.C.G.A. § 16‑12‑21 et seq.
• Official Link: https://law.justia.com/codes/georgia/2022/title-16/chapter-12/article-2/part-1/section-16-12-21/
  

Horse Racing / Pari‑Mutuel Wagering

Pari‑mutuel wagering on horse or dog racing is prohibited. Georgia has no statutes permitting betting at racetracks and classifies all such wagering as illegal gambling.

• Status: Illegal
• Date of Authorization: N/A
• Law: O.C.G.A. § 16‑12‑21 et seq.
• Official Link: https://law.justia.com/codes/georgia/2022/title-16/chapter-12/article-2/part-1/section-16-12-21/
  

Lottery

The Georgia Lottery for Education Act (enacted April 1992) allows a state-run lottery for public education. Retail tickets and instant games are permitted; online sales are not authorized.

• Status: Legal
• Date of Authorization: April 1, 1992
• Law: O.C.G.A. Title 50, Chapter 27
• Official Link: https://law.justia.com/codes/georgia/title-50/chapter-27/
  

Charitable Gaming (Bingo, Raffles)

Licensed charitable bingo and raffles are legal under O.C.G.A. § 16‑12‑22.1. Nonprofit organizations may operate these fundraising games upon obtaining local sheriff licensure.

• Status: Legal
• Date of Authorization: Codified 1992 with updates
• Law: O.C.G.A. § 16‑12‑22.1
• Official Link: https://law.justia.com/codes/georgia/title-16/chapter-12/article-2/part-1/section-16-12-22-1/
  

Overall Comment

Georgia’s gambling laws are among the most restrictive in the U.S.: only state lottery, licensed bingo, and raffles are permitted. All other forms of gambling—including online casinos, sports betting, racetrack wagering, and poker—are clearly prohibited under felony statutes. Any expansion would require legislative change and likely a constitutional amendment.

Online Casino in Georgia

There are no laws that specifically make online betting in Georgia illegal. You cannot, however, run a gambling website out of Georgia. So, Georgia residents are able to place bets if they are on sites based outside of The Peach State or on offshore sites, however, we do not recommend this as it can be unsafe if sites are not vetted.

Sports Betting in Georgia

Sports betting in Georgia is not legal in person or online, unless you are using a site that is not based in The Peach State. 

Sports betting in Georgia has been illegal since PASPA (Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act) passed in 1992. The passing of this act banned sports betting, and in 2018 the federal courts struck it down, allowing states to decide for themselves whether or not they would allow sports betting. 

Georgia has yet to make it legal.