Key Takeaways
•The sports betting industry has spent about $10 million on Georgia political campaigns as lawmakers continue debating regulation.
•DraftKings and FanDuel are still pushing hard to expand sports betting, even as concerns grow about gambling addiction and weak regulations.
•Georgia lawmakers are still discussing sports betting regulation, while industry-backed groups work to turn the state into one of the country’s biggest betting markets.
The sports betting industry is spending millions of dollars on Georgia political campaigns as lawmakers once again consider regulating online sports betting in the state.
Major sportsbook companies and political groups connected to the industry have reportedly spent around $10 million to influence Georgia elections connected to sports gambling laws.
Sports Betting Industry Pushes for Growth in Georgia
Companies involved in the effort include major sportsbook operators like DraftKings and FanDuel. Both companies have expanded quickly across the United States since the Supreme Court allowed states to regulate sports betting in 2018. Reports say the money is being used through political action committees and advocacy groups to build support among Georgia lawmakers and voters.
Georgia has become one of the biggest states the industry still wants to enter. Even after several years of debate, sports betting is still not regulated there. Multiple proposals have failed in recent legislative sessions, although polls show many Georgia voters support regulation.
Supporters say regulated sports betting could bring in new tax money for education and other state programs. Opponents argue that expanded gambling could lead to serious social problems, especially for younger people.
Concerns Increase Over Gambling Rules and Youth Access
Concerns about sports betting are growing across the country as regulators continue finding cases involving minors using betting apps. In Connecticut alone, officials reported more than 200 suspected cases of underage gambling between February 2025 and February 2026 connected to DraftKings and FanDuel accounts.
Investigators say some children may have used their parents’ accounts to place bets, while others reportedly found ways around systems meant to block underage users. In several cases, minors were able to deposit thousands of dollars before the accounts were discovered and shut down.
Connecticut lawmakers have responded by trying to increase penalties for adults who allow minors to gamble online. Similar concerns are appearing nationwide as experts warn that sports betting apps, which are heavily advertised during sporting events and easy to access on smartphones, are exposing teenagers and college students to gambling more than ever before.
Critics of Georgia’s regulation effort say the large amount of campaign money shows how aggressively sportsbook companies are trying to expand, despite growing concerns about addiction and consumer protections.
The debate is expected to grow stronger before the 2026 election cycle as industry-backed groups continue spending heavily in Georgia races connected to gambling legislation.
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