Gambling Legislation Update, March 29: Georgia Sports Betting Fails
The Closing Line will aggregate efforts to legalize sports betting and online casinos (and other gambling bills) in this space on Fridays, as long as the legislative season is still active.
Georgia
The Georgia House of Representatives wrapped up without a vote on a package that could have paved the way for legal sports betting. Legislation passed the Senate in February, leading some to hope the effort would reach the finish line and send the issue to voters in November. But progress slowed in the waning days of the legislative session; there was activity on the bill on the final day. Georgia was one of the few real chances of a new sports betting law going on the books this year.
Minnesota
There continues to be lots of evidence and chatter that sports betting finally has a chance to become reality. A sponsor says he is building support among groups that have opposed sports betting in the past. The Star Tribune threw its support behind the effort as well.
Maryland
A Senate committee considered a Maryland online casino bill this week, but it appears it faces long odds heading into the final two weeks of the session. More here on the fading hopes that MD would be the next state to authorize online casinos.
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Other gambling bill updates
A statewide online sports betting is still on the table in Mississippi. But there’s been no movement in the Senate after the House passed a bill in early February. The state already has retail sportsbooks and online betting on casino premises.
New legislation in Washington DC would seek to create a competitive online sports betting industry and move away from the current monopoly.
Rep. Paul Tonko, behind a proposed Congressional effort to limit sports betting advertising, is calling the industry the “Wild West.”
A new bill would create the Kentucky Horse Racing and Gaming Corp. to oversee all gambling in the state.
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