Georgia Sports Betting bill passes first legislative test

ATLANTA, Georgia (WDEF) – A bill to bring sports betting to Georgia has cleared its first hurdle in the legislature.

It passed one Senate Committee and now heads to another committee to determine the full Senate will vote on it.

The bill would hand out 16 licenses to handle sports betting in Georgia.

Five would go to pro teams like the Braves and Falcons.

Some of the money would go towards HOPE scholarships, just like the lottery.

This bill does not require NOT require changing the state constitution.

Another sports betting proposal does change the constitution, which requires a longer and more difficult path.

Sports betting is already legal in more than 30 states across the country, including in Tennessee.