A state representative who was involved in Georgia’s efforts to legalize sports wagering has stepped down to focus on a separate business opportunity, according to Fox 5 News.
State Rep. Marcus Wiedower, a Republican who has served Georgia’s 121st district since 2019, had introduced two bills, House Bill 686 and House Resolution 450, intending to legalize sports gambling in the state. The bills focused solely on internet gambling, avoiding casinos, kiosks, and horse racing.
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House Bill 686 would see the awarding of up to 16 licenses for online gambling operators in the state and a revenue tax rate of 24%.
House Resolution 450 wanted voters to have the final say through a referendum in 2026 on whether online sports gambling would be legalized in Georgia or not.
Wiedower had been advocating for wagering law reform in Georgia, but his resignation leaves uncertainty over future leadership and whether the legislative push will continue.
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Three fellow sponsors of the bill remain; however, previous arguments over possible constitutional changes and revenue allocation could yet arise again.
The resignation takes effect immediately, and Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp will appoint a replacement to serve the remainder of the term, which ends in 2027.
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The Backstory
Momentum Falters as Key Advocate Steps Down
Georgia’s latest drive to legalize sports betting has hit another setback after Rep. Marcus Wiedower, a leading Republican voice behind two core bills, abruptly resigned. Wiedower had been the face of House Bill 686 and House Resolution 450, which together aimed to authorize online-only wagering and give voters the final say in a 2026 referendum. His departure, reported by Fox 5 News, leaves a leadership void in a push already hampered by legislative gridlock and public ambivalence.
The bills’ narrow scope—excluding casinos, kiosks, and horse racing—was intended to ease conservative concerns, while a proposed 24% tax on operator revenue promised significant state income. Even so, ideological divides over constitutional changes and revenue allocation repeatedly stalled progress. Gov. Brian Kemp must now appoint a replacement to serve out Wiedower’s term through 2027, but observers question whether anyone else can rally sufficient bipartisan backing to move gambling legislation forward.
Years of Legislative Frustration
Georgia’s quest to legalize sports wagering has been fraught with missed deadlines and failed votes. Earlier this year, lawmakers again failed to bring the measures to the floor before a key procedural cutoff, leaving supporters frustrated and opponents emboldened. As the
Associated Press reported, the collapse came despite strong support from Atlanta’s professional sports teams and Republican Lt. Gov. Burt Jones.
Since 2018, when the U.S. Supreme Court cleared states to regulate sports betting, 38 jurisdictions have enacted laws permitting it. Yet Georgia remains an outlier in the South. Critics continue to cite addiction risks and social costs, while advocates argue that the state is losing potential revenue to offshore sportsbooks. Rep. Chuck Martin, chair of the House Higher Education Committee, said lawmakers were simply “not there yet,” though he left open the prospect of revisiting the issue for the 2026 ballot.
Public Debate Intensifies
The legislative impasse has kept the issue alive in public forums. A House Study Committee convened in Savannah this summer drew a range of voices—from academics to advocacy groups—offering sharply different views on what legal betting would mean for Georgia.
As detailed in
committee coverage, supporters emphasized potential economic benefits. Former Kentucky Senator Damon Thayer cited University of Kentucky data suggesting legalized horse wagering could generate $6.5 billion in revenue and create 16,500 jobs. West Virginia economist Brad R. Humphreys argued that Georgians already cross state lines to place bets legally, depriving the state of tax income.
Opponents, including Moms Against Gambling founder Jeanne Seaver, warned of rising youth exposure and addiction risks. The debate underscored the divide between those who view gambling as an untapped revenue source and those who see it as a moral hazard. For now, the state lottery remains Georgia’s only legal form of gaming.
Senate Resistance Undermines Momentum
Even before Wiedower’s resignation, the Senate had delivered a decisive blow to legalization efforts. The
defeat of Senate Resolution 131 in committee ended hopes of placing a constitutional amendment on the ballot this session. The proposal would have allowed online sports betting and casino gambling, taxed at 20%.
Opponents, led by the Georgia Baptist Mission Board, cited links between gambling and mental health crises, arguing that the legislation posed unacceptable risks. “Up to a third of addicted gamblers are going to consider committing suicide,” one lobbyist told Fox 5 Atlanta, calling the vote a bipartisan victory for public health.
Proponents countered with data from GeoComply indicating that 14,500 Georgians placed online bets during Super Bowl LIX, evidence that prohibition isn’t preventing play. They estimate that Georgia is forfeiting as much as $115 million annually in uncollected taxes. Still, the Senate’s rejection suggests that any path forward would need a grassroots campaign to sway both lawmakers and voters.
Broader National Context
Georgia’s difficulties reflect a broader trend across the United States, where legalization efforts face a shifting political and moral landscape. In Minnesota, a
Senate finance committee hearing led by Sen. John Marty reignited debate over whether legal betting fuels addiction or offers a safer alternative to illegal wagering. Witnesses including Stop Predatory Gambling’s national director described the industry as “adversarial” and exploitative, while supporters urged regulation to protect consumers and direct funds to treatment programs.
That same argument has played out in nearly every state considering expansion. Advocates point to the inevitability of digital betting and the need for oversight; critics emphasize the social toll. The tension illustrates how gambling policy has become as much a cultural issue as an economic one, dividing parties, regions, and even faith groups.
Lessons from Ohio’s Policy Clash
In Ohio, where sports betting is already legal, a new controversy highlights the challenges of managing a mature market. Gov. Mike DeWine recently called for a ban on prop bets following a Major League Baseball investigation into player gambling and threats made against athletes. DeWine urged the state’s Casino Control Commission to act swiftly, saying the “prop betting experiment in this country has failed badly.” His full statement appears on
the governor’s official site.
But Republican Rep. Brian Stewart pushed back, arguing that prop bets are a legitimate and lucrative part of the market. In a
post on X, he noted that Ohio has collected $359 million in sports betting taxes since January 2023 and that removing prop bets would jeopardize revenue. The state already bans prop wagers on college games, but Stewart wants those reinstated, underscoring how even established markets face continuing policy battles over integrity versus income.
What Comes Next for Georgia
Georgia’s legislative path now hinges on whether a new sponsor can emerge to rebuild consensus before the 2026 election cycle. The absence of Wiedower’s leadership leaves the pro-gambling bloc fragmented at a critical time, while faith-based and anti-gambling groups appear newly energized by recent wins.
Supporters are expected to regroup ahead of the next session, possibly reviving the referendum route as a way to bypass legislative deadlock. Yet the pattern of repeated failures—spanning committee defeats, missed deadlines, and now a key resignation—suggests that momentum is slipping. Without a coordinated strategy and broader public mobilization, Georgia risks remaining on the sidelines of an industry that continues to expand across the country.
The stakes are both financial and political. Neighboring states are already reaping tax gains from regulated sports betting, while Georgia’s policymakers remain divided over whether those dollars are worth the social cost.
