All types of gambling have quite a complicated history in Georgia. On the one hand, local authorities are very conservative regarding any game where money is involved (except for horse racing). On the other hand, they need cash flows from gambling revenues to finance state programs.
This contradiction can be seen in the constant changes of Georgia gambling laws that add new games but at the same time make them even more regulated. The latest example was the veto of the bill about building a mega resort casino by Governor Sonny Perdue in 2007. However, later he suggested opening up bricks-and-mortar casinos in Atlanta and Bristol (on the Georgia-Tennessee border) by the same developer – Las Vegas businessman Phil Ruffin.
So, it’s hard to predict what will happen next. What we know for sure is that now Georgia does not license online operators, so all gambling sites are situated “out of state.” This creates good opportunities for players as they can check out world-class venues without any restrictions. You will find our recommendations shortly, but first, let’s look through the current situation with Georgia gambling laws.
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The main body of Georgia gambling laws is called the Georgia Code, Title 16. Crimes and Offenses, Chapter 12. Gambling. It looks rather strict on paper, imposing fines and jail terms for almost every participation in gambling (Sections 16-12-20 and 30):
- Lottery. The only type of lottery allowed in Georgia is the one organized by the State Lottery (Section 16-12-24). Other types of lotteries are considered misdemeanors (Sectio 16-12-32).
- Pari-mutuel wagering. Such types of betting as pari-mutuel wagering on dog or horse races are allowed but under specific conditions (O.C.G.A. Section 16-12-88). Any participation in foreign pari-mutuel betting pools is considered a misdemeanor (Section 16-12-92).
- Social gaming. Social gaming is the loophole in Georgia gambling laws that allows running a small gambling operation for charitable purposes (O.C.G.A. Section 16-12-41 through 16-12-47).
- Charitable bingo. Bingo is allowed for charitable organizations (O.C.G.A. Section 16-12-50 through 16-12-58), but such events should be approved by local authorities.
- Poker. Playing poker is prohibited (O.C.G.A. Section 16-12-20), but there were no recent court cases against single players.
- Casino gaming. Operating any casino-type establishment is illegal (O.C.G.A. Section 16-12-23), and playing there is also punishable (Section 16-12-31).
- Sports betting. Any organizational aspects of sports betting operations are prohibited (O.C.G.A. Section 16-12-21), while betting itself is considered a misdemeanor (Section 16-12-30).
As you see, most types of gambling in Georgia are either licensed and strictly regulated or prohibited. However, there is no explicit definition of what “gambling” means. That’s why, historically, there is a common agreement between law enforcement agencies on how to treat different offenses related to gambling:
- No players = no crime.
- Players sharing responsibility make the investigation difficult but do not exclude the possibility of catching organizer(s).
- Organizers usually face more serious charges.
In other words, if police catch you playing an unlicensed game, they most likely warn you and let you go. If the raid is large-scale (like big poker tournaments or sports betting rings), its organizers may expect some trouble.
golden nugget casino michigan appEven this vague legal ground has some advantages: when the law says, “Gambling is bad; we allow only…,” it names all potential loopholes as criminal offenses. For instance, the definition of a ‘lottery’ (Section 16-12-23) includes any scheme where ‘consideration’ (money) is used:
This is pretty much all Georgia shares with other states (for instance, Florida and Louisiana have much stricter definitions). At the same time, it makes any unsanctioned online actions criminal offenses as well. In practice, the focus of law enforcement agents is on organizers, and players are warned and let free (if there are many players, organizers get priority in prosecution.)
Of course, it is a shaky basis for developing any major online projects in Georgia. That’s why all online gambling bills faced opposition from local politicians and businesses afraid of possible regulation burdens. As a result, Georgia gambling laws remain vague, and online gambling stays in a gray area without any licensing or regulation but without wide-scale prosecutions either.
More Casinos That Got Lucky with Great Names - PokerListingsIn simple words: Although participating in unsanctioned gambling is officially considered a misdemeanor, neither Georgian gamblers nor online gambling companies face any legal problems.
Georgia Casinos – Indian Reservations and Nearby States
As we mentioned earlier, operating casinos in Georgia is prohibited (O.C.G.A. Section 16-12-23). The latest attempt to change Georgia gambling laws occurred in 2007 when Governor Sonny Perdue vetoed a bill about constructing a mega resort casino (with up to 2,000 slot machines and table games) near the Alabama border. The project was initiated by Las Vegas entrepreneur Phil Ruffin, who offered to split revenues with the state authority. After the veto, Mr. Perdue proposed a similar venue to be built in Atlanta or Bristol (on the Georgia-Tennessee border); however, this project did not move further.
So, there are no Georgia casinos, but there are two Indian casinos close enough:
- Creek Casino in Oklahoma. This facility is just half an hour drive from Tulsa, OK. The driving distance is around 220 miles (about 4 hours via US-78 W/US-19 S). Address: 14122 Ok-99, Jay, OK 74348.
- Cherokee Creek Casino in Alabama. It takes about 200 miles (around 3 hours via US-27 N/AL-75 N) to reach this tribal venue. Address: 274 Cougar Janes Rd, Tuskaloosa, AL 35404, United States.
Both casinos are operated by the Creek Indians, and their legality depends on several Supreme Court decisions that confirm federal jurisdiction over such matters within Indian reservations. While Georgia gambling laws prohibit any casinos, these venues are located outside of the state. Still, their proximity saves a few hundreds of dollars for gasoline and time.
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There is no official definition of poker in Georgia gambling laws. The ban on ‘banking games with cards’ (O.C.G.A. Section 16-12-23) sounds old-fashioned and hardly ever applied to modern home poker games. However, hosting private poker games for a fee or with excessive prizes may draw attention from law enforcers. So far, there were no court decisions that would make hosting poker games illegal in Georgia; still, avoiding cash play and donating prize money among players can save troubles.
Those willing to play in brick-and-mortar venues can visit nearby poker rooms in Alabama (Harvey’s View at the Virgin Casino – about 190 miles via I-20 E/US-278 E) or Mississippi (Beau Rivage Resort & Casino – around 280 miles via I-59 S). There are no legal online poker sites that operate locally in Georgia but nothing prevents locals from joining online poker rooms available for US / International players. Just remember that all online action remains on the borderline of grey legality because of the absence of licensing and regulation.
Georgia Sports Betting – Professional & College Sports
Just like in many other states, Georgia sports betting history starts long ago before pari-mutuel wagering becomes popular. Before the 1970s, locals enjoyed various forms of straight bets, over/under, and parlays at brick-and-mortar bookmakers locations throughout the state. Of course, such activities were considered criminal offenses, but the lack of any organizing efforts made police ignore single bettors.
With the growth of popularity of pari-mutuel wagering rules, all forms of sports betting were limited to racetracks. Today, the Charles H. Jones Racing Center in Perry offers machines for off-track pari-mutuel sports betting (soccer, baseball, basketball, football, hockey, golf, and greyhounds). Georgia gambling laws (O.C.G.A. Section 16-12-21) ban all organizational aspects of sports betting operations, while betting itself is considered a misdemeanor (Section 16-12-30). This legislation creates legal problems for those trying to set up online sportsbooks in Georgia. Still, local players do not face any issues using offshore online sportsbooks.
Best Casino Apps for Android to Use in 2023Locals support three major college teams from Georgia Southern University, Georgia Institute of Technology, and University of Georgia. These schools compete in various sports, including baseball, basketball, football, soccer, softball, tennis, and others.
Georgia Horse Track Betting – Historical Race Taping
Unlike other forms of gambling, horse tracks enjoyed support from legislators through centuries. Today, Georgia horse track betting is represented by Charles H. Jones Racing Center in Perry and Douglasville Historic Racing Card Room in Douglasville. Both venues feature historical race tapping (HRT) that differs from traditional pari-mutuel wagering. According to Georgia gambling laws (O.C.G.A. Section 16-12-88), such historical race tapings should meet the following requirements:
Best Free Casino Games Online You Can Play For Fun- The race should have been held at least two years ago.
- The race should not be held in Georgia.
- The machine should not play live videos; instead, they show taped scenarios.
- Bettors should not communicate with anyone about the race while it is ongoing.
These rules restrict the excitement of horse track betting in Georgia but keep it legally safe zone. Still, local players appreciate chances to earn while watching breathtaking competitions.
Lottery
Georgia is one of the few states without a state-wide lottery. Surprisingly, the only type of lottery allowed in Georgia is the State Lottery (O.C.G.A. Section 50-121). All other types of lotteries are banned (Section 16-12-32), and winning lots is considered a misdemeanor. Of course, participants are not prosecuted, but sellers might face up to $500 fine and six months of imprisonment. Local players often use loopholes created for charitable raffles (see below) to organize private lotto games.
The Georgia Lottery is rather modest compared to what players from other states can enjoy. The main draws are Fantasy 5, Cash 3, and Cash 4. The biggest jackpot in the history of Georgia Lottery was drawn on Oct. 15, 2009 ($22.4 million). Those willing to hit bigger jackpots should consider playing multi-state drawings (Powerball and Mega Millions). However, they must leave Georgia to buy tickets in Alabama, Florida, Tennessee.
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All forms of gambling in Georgia are strictly controlled and licensed. Still, there is an exception for charitable gaming that uses the “for entertainment only” approach. Many Georgia gambling laws (O.C.G.A. Section 16-12-41 through 16-12-47) focus on regulations of charitable bingo and raffles.
According to these rules, such events should be held:
- By non-profit organizations. Eligibility should be confirmed by IRS 501(c)(3) certificate or lists of voters of political parties or candidates.
- For charitable purposes only. Proceeds should be spent according to the organization’s mission.
- Under supervision of local authorities. Organizations should receive permission from city council, county commission, or state authority.
- Without compensation. No one should get paid organized charitable gaming events.
- Without alcohol and drugs involvement. Alcohol and drug abuse undermine the charitable purpose of the event.
Organizers should use special bingo equipment (bingo wheels, bingo balls, etc.) that excludes any opportunity for cheating and advanced planning. The maximum number of games with prizes over $500 is three per day; total daily prizes should not exceed $3,000. These regulations create good opportunities for charity fundraising through gaming events.
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Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) appeared when season-long fantasy leagues became mainstream, and millions of Americans started enjoying team management simulating professional leagues. The key difference between DFS and regular fantasy sports lies in competition duration. While season-long leagues run through the entire season, daily venues offer much faster actions.
Actually, the biggest DFS companies – FanDuel and DraftKings – advertised daily fantasies as a quick way to have fun during a single day or a week (instead of waiting until the end of an NFL or MLB season). Still, local authorities and mass media often confused DFS with gambling and expressed concerns about addictive nature and lack of control.
As a result, several states banned Daily Fantasy Sports or made them legal after specific regulations. Georgia gambling laws do not mention anything about DFS; therefore, local players can enjoy daily fantasies provided none of legislation appears suddenly.
Social Casinos & Sweepstakes
The loophole in Georgia gambling laws opens good opportunities for social casinos and sweepstakes websites. They rely on the idea of free-play and do not take real money from players. Instead, they use gold coins, tokens, chips, or another internal currency.
To earn internal funds, players use complimentary offers, daily gifts, bonus levels, and other options. Additionally, social casinos and sweepstakes websites offer lottery-type games where players can purchase lottery tickets and wait until the results are announced. None of these actions involve real money, which lets social casinos and sweepstakes websites avoid any licensing and regulation within Georgia.
Still, some internal offers can be purchased with real money, and winners may get rewards to their bank accounts or get them mailed. Police rarely pay attention to players making small purchases or claiming small rewards. Still, social casinos and sweepstakes websites remain in a gray legal zone, and none of them is based in Georgia.
History of Gambling in Georgia
Colonial times featured no restrictions on gambling in Georgia. Plantations owners and workers enjoyed card games, horse races, cockfights, and other games with cash rewards. George II even encouraged horse racing by issuing a royal decree that stated, “three of the best timed horses… shall have Ribbons put round their necks… and proper Medals of Gold… delivered to the Owners thereof.”
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Today, this definition is still used in Georgia gambling laws (O.C.G.A. Section 16-12-20):
- Banking games with cards.
- Any game where “something of value is placed on a number or symbol and opportunity depends upon chance for determining whether or not said number or symbol shall be the winning number or symbol.”
- Any wheel, including the roulette wheel (but exemptions exist for historical race tapings, see below).
- Any lottery, whether or not it involves membership fees.
- Any banking or policy game played with numbers.
The only legal exception was made for historical race tapings (O.C.G.A. Section 16-12-88).
Current Attempts to Legalize & Regulate Gambling
None of recent attempts to expand Georgia gambling gained full support from officials and ended in legislature failure or governor veto. Below, we listed the most notable examples of recent years:
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- Destiny Park City proposal by Las Vegas businessman Phil Ruffin. The project envisioned a $200 million mega-resort casino on 350 acres located 75 miles south of Atlanta (Clayton County). Destiny Park City would feature a 25-story hotel with 450 rooms, 3,000-seat amphitheater, marina, mini-golf, go-karts, water park, ice skating ring, convention center, etc. – plus, 2,000 slot machines and 200 table games. Governor Sonny Perdue vetoed the bill, and Mr. Ruffin suggested moving the resort to the Atlanta’s downtown or Bristol, TN/VA border.
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- A bill about creating the Georgia Lottery Corporation failed to gain the needed majority. Its supporters planned to use lottery revenues for debt repayments and tax cuts.
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- A bill about establishing a state-wide constitution referendum on the matter of building casinos died in the Senate Rules Committee.
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- A bill about creating Destination Palmetto near Savannah or Pooler died in the House Economic Development and Tourism Committee. Another bill about building a Las Vegas-style Creek Casino and Hotel Resorts in Chattanooga died in the House Ways and Means Committee. Governor Sonny Perdue backed both projects, but they faced public and politician protests. Eventually, the governor vetoed a bill about constructing Sandy Springs Resort and Casino, and no other resorts got any serious discussions.
Current Georgia Governor Brian Kemp has never raised topics of expanding Georgia gambling. His previous activities were focused on business and politics within the state.
Top Online Gambling Site for Georgia
Since no licensing bodies operate within Georgia, there is nobody to issue licenses to online operators. Besides, Georgia gambling laws create uncertainty about the legal status of online gambling. Even though participating in gambling is not criminally prosecuted, its organizational aspects are considered illegal.
None of these circumstances discourages Georgia players from enjoying online casinos, poker rooms, and sports betting platforms. Still, they should understand that no legal problems mean zero control. Scammers may pose a threat to bank details and PCs/smartphones, while unfair operators may ignore players’ requests. Therefore, everyone needs reliable sources of legal and trustworthy online casinos available for USA players. At GhostPorter, we carefully examine online operators and choose only those who have solid licenses, reputable partners, independent audits, good feedback, transparent policies, and cutting-edge security tools. Our top choice for Georgia is:
FAQs
Is gambling legal in Georgia?
Georgia gambling laws create specific restrictions. While brick-and-mortar venues are licensed and strictly regulated, unsanctioned actions are considered criminal offenses. Participants usually escape without punishment, while organizers may face charges. Online gambling exists in a gray area without licensing and regulation, but nothing prevents locals from joining international online projects designed for US players.
Can I play online casino games in Georgia?
Georgia does not host any licensing bodies, so no online casinos are officially allowed to operate locally. Still, no Georgia player ever faced any legal problems playing at brick-and-mortar casinos designed for US players. We recommend starting from our .
Where are the closest casinos from Georgia?
While Georgia prohibits any casinos, Creek and Cherokee casinos are located close enough to be reached for a day trip. Creek Casino is just half an hour drive from Tulsa, OK. The driving distance is around 220 miles (about 4 hours via US-78 W/US-19 S). The nearest is located in Alabama (about 190 miles via I-20 E/US-278 E), while is situated around 280 miles from Georgia (via I-59 S).
Best New Online Casinos in UK (2023) - Up & Coming BrandsDoes the state have any sports betting venues?
Georgia sports betting history began with bookmakers at local bars and parlays at racetracks. Currently, only the latter option exists, and it is limited to historical race tapings at and Douglasville Historic Racing Card Room in Douglasville. Both venues feature HRT (taped race scenarios) that differ from traditional pari-mutuel wagering (where bettors can watch live races).
How can I claim my Georgia Lottery prize?
All Georgia Lottery winners should fill special claim forms and provide valid ID, social security card, and proof of ticket ownership. If the prize fits into one of fourteen drawing categories (up to $599), players can claim it at any retail location or the corporate office. Jackpot winners should call (404) 537-0600 or visit the corporate office in Atlanta.
What types of gambling are permitted on Indian reservations near Georgia?
Two Indian casinos are close enough for a day trip from Georgia. operates just half an hour drive from Tulsa, OK. The driving distance is around 220 miles (about 4 hours via US-78 W/US-19 S). supports larger distances, as it is located in Alabama (about 190 miles via I-20 E/US-278 E), but compensates it with a richer selection of gaming tables.
