As multiple states have already formally legalized online betting, pressure is mounting on Georgian law-makers to at the very least formally legislate on statues, or clarify more terms relating to online betting in the state.
Whether you bet online or not, most citizens are aware that online betting is accessible and legal in Georgia–although the state has enforced firm age restrictions on players who wish to bet through their online-enabled device, or at a land-based casinos.
Georgian residents that are 18 or over are permitted to play bingo, buy a state lottery ticket, bet on horse races and even play bingo online but it’s only state citizens aged 21 or over that are permitted to play in online casinos, wager money via a sportsbook app or are allowed to access and play in any online poker room.
However, because nothing is actually formally legislated for, things can- and have- become extremely murky.
While most responsible online betting proponents agree that an epidemic of young people glued to betting on their smartphones is not the ideal, research across the globe for decades has proven that that scenario simply does not happen. However, the confusion, and the refusal to formally pass any formal law of note is worrying some politicians who fear that potential tax revenues gained through online betting could be down as a result: after all online betting is big business.
It has even recently been reported that over $300 million alone was wagered via online baseball in New Jersey in April.
To put it simply, unlike New Jersey and other states, online gambling legislation in Georgia does not currently exist in a formal capacity. Ever since the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) was repealed, many proponents of online betting have been left in chaos, confused about where the state is heading in relation to legal online sportsbooks and casinos.
What’s even more confusing, as other parts of the country move on to incur huge sums in extra tax revenue, is that state lawmakers have had the authority to push through all types of sports betting legislation for years but there has been absolutely no action that has been taken so far.
It’s the same story for online poker, casino gaming and bingo; currently there is no law that has been drafted into the statutes or legislature. If you are going to gamble online, you generally do not have to worry, although it’s always best to read online casino reviews before you sign up and play, but the lack of clarity certainly isn’t helping.
With smartphone ownership reaching peak penetration levels, everything we do now is online; from buying groceries to ordering clothes, all of our day-to-day activities pretty much involve our smart devices in one way or another; is it therefore natural to continue to avoid this very subject-especially given the fact so much has changed over the last decade? It’s even been estimated that in the next 3 years more than half of the U.S. will have a regulated betting market.
The online betting revolution in America is not slowing down and already millions have access to betting apps, betting websites and more. In fact, brands big and small are investing large amounts in their betting offerings- recognizing the potential market and hiring some of the most creative employees in an attempt to build the best online betting apps available in this new and emerging market.
There is now a plethora of choice and that choice is only set to grow for those who want to bet online.
If Georgia wants to be at the forefront of the online betting revolution, which could be huge for the state coffers, then law makers need to act, and act fast.