Survey Reveals Strong Support for Sports Betting and Legal Reform Among Georgia Voters
A survey conducted by the Metro Atlanta Chamber and the University of Georgia’s School of Public and International Affairs revealed significant voter support for legalizing sports betting and implementing litigation reform in Georgia. The poll, conducted from December 14-19, 2024, included responses from 800 registered voters across the state.
Key findings include:
- Sports Betting Support:
- 63% of respondents support allowing adults in Georgia to legally wager on sports, while 23.9% oppose it, and 13.1% are undecided.
- 54.4% said they would be more likely to support sports betting if it reduced out-of-state or illegal offshore wagering.
- 79.8% indicated they would support legalizing sports betting if the generated revenue were dedicated to educational programs like HOPE scholarships and pre-K.
- Voter Decision on Sports Betting:
- 77.9% prefer allowing Georgia voters to decide on legalizing sports betting through a constitutional amendment, rather than leaving the decision to state lawmakers.
- Litigation Reform Opinions:
- Only 16.5% strongly agree that business owners should be held liable for crimes committed by third parties on their property, while 37.1% strongly disagree.
- For crimes committed near a business but not on its property, 58.4% strongly disagree that business owners should be held liable.
- 71% agree (strongly or somewhat) that an increasing number of lawsuits filed against businesses in Georgia negatively impacts the state’s economy.
Marshall Guest, Senior Vice President of Public Policy at the Metro Atlanta Chamber, emphasized the importance of the findings: “These results reveal that Georgians significantly support sports betting and want the opportunity to vote on it. Additionally, polling shows that Georgians recognize the need to protect our business climate with reasonable litigation reform while ensuring access to the court system.”
As the 2025 legislative session approaches, the survey highlights public opinion on key issues that are expected to be debated at the State Capitol.
