- The House Gaming Study Committee held its second gathering on Monday.
- Scott Warfield, PGA’s vice president of gaming, testified before the Committee in support of legalizing sports betting in Georgia.
- The Committee is set to make recommendations to the General Assembly during the 2026 legislative season.
ATLANTA – PGA Tour officials testified before the House Study Committee on Gaming in Georgia, this Monday, urging the state to legalize online sports betting.
The process of passing the necessary votes and regulating locally-based legal Georgia sports betting sites has taken longer than many sports leagues would have liked. As of 2025, Georgia is one of 11 states that have yet to legalize retail or online sports wagering.
Scott Warfield met with Georgia lawmakers after the conclusion of the Tour Championship at East Lake to discuss sports betting and its economic benefits, emphasizing that attract a new generation to golf.
“This attracts a 35 to 44-year-old fan base to come in, have a five-dollar bet on the end of the tournament yesterday, and find out what great story lines we have on the PGA Tour.”
This move comes alongside the efforts of other professional sports teams in Atlanta.
The PGA Tour joined the Coalition for Responsible Sports Betting Advertising in 2024, and continues to advocate for safe gambling practices.
“With the proliferation of sports betting in the United States, the PGA TOUR remains committed to establishing a safe and healthy marketplace for consumers,” said Scott Warfield, PGA TOUR vice president, Gaming. “The TOUR is proud to stand alongside its fellow sports leagues and network partners on the coalition, as well as with our colleagues at NCPG, in our continued mission to educate fans on the merits of gambling responsibly and the resources available to address problem gambling issues.”
Other teams, including the Braves, Hawks, Falcons, and Atlanta United, are in support of legal sports betting sites that are regulated becoming available during the 2026 legislative season.
The House Gaming Study Committee has met twice, through the summer and fall in the months to discuss elements of the gaming industry.
The committee has met with several leaders in the sports betting industry to discuss topics including public safety, fantasy sports, casino sites, and property development.
The House Gaming Study Committee will meet two more times before the next legislative session to discuss Georgia’s gambling landscape.
