Former Georgia Chief Justice: Sports Betting Doesn’t Require Constitutional Amendment

Georgia’s former chief justice who oversaw the state’s highest juridical authorization doesn’t consider a constitutional amendment is requisite to pass play on sports.

Harold Melton served as chief justness of the Georgia Supreme Court from September 2018 through and through June 2021. He was firstly ordained to the state’s highest bench on July 1, 2015.

Melton, a lifelong Georgian who received his bachelor’s from Auburn University before returning home for his Juris Doctorate at the University of Georgia, has spent his career practicing practice of law inward the Peach State. One of the state’s leading effectual minds, Melton was recently petitioned past the Metro capital of Georgia Chamber of Commerce for his views on the path to legal sports betting.

Melton concluded that tell lawmakers have got the effectual authority to pass statute law that ends Georgia’s forbiddance on sports betting.

Easier Path for Sports Betting

Gaming is I of the more controversial topics among commonwealth lawmakers in Georgia. Many Republicans believe any gaming expansion alfresco of the state-run drawing would diminish the quality of lifespan in Georgia.

Gaming opponents cite the societal ills often associated with legal gambling, including problem gambling, bankruptcy, crime, domestic abuse, and suicide. Georgians, however, are estimated to hold gambled $5 one thousand million lawlessly in conclusion yr on sports through and through offshore websites and neighborhood bookies.

Proponents say legalizing sports betting would protect consumers piece also generating unexampled task revenue for the state. But lawmakers have got differing opinions on whether sports betting can only when be legalized through and through an amendment to the Georgia Constitution.

Such an amendment would human face long odds, as proposed constitutional referendums require two-thirds bulk sustenance inwards the res publica House of Representatives and Senate. The land organisation would follow amended if the ballot inquiry receives unsubdivided absolute majority livelihood from voters.

Melton says there’s an easier path for Peach State to get together the more than 30 other states that experience legalized sports betting since the US Supreme Margaret Court said such play should be left to the states and non the federal government. The May 2018 SCOTUS determination repealed a federal law of nature that had special single-game sports wagering to Nevada.

Based on my critical review of the relevant law, the pilot public meanings of applicable terms and the historical context of use of those terms, it is my judgment that sports betting can be legalized as a state-run lottery for educational purposes solely through legislative action,” Melton wrote.

Melton’s view was foremost reported past The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Legislative activity instead of a constitutional amendment would respectively cut back the votes needed inwards the House and Senate from 119 and 37 votes to just 91 and 29 votes.

Residents Back Sports Betting

The Metro battle of Atlanta Chamber of Commerce believes Georgians need the freedom to wager lawfully on sports. A recent canvass conducted by DC-based polling firmly Cygnal on behalf of the chamber and battle of Atlanta Sports Council found that nearly 52% of likely voters would backward Sakartvelo permitting online sports betting.

Would you backing or oppose an travail to legitimate and regulate online sports wagering inward Sakartvelo and set the revenue enhancement revenue it generates towards the HOPE Scholarship, college pass completion grants, and Pre-K education?” was how Cygnal worded the question. While 51.5% said they would backing such an effort, only 24.2% said they would be inwards opposition. The repose of the respondents were not sure.

“Allowing our citizens to take part inwards safe, accountable sports betting spell also strengthening the legacy of investiture our say has made in higher pedagogy and educatee achievement testament only when build on Georgia’s report as a outstanding come in to live, piece of work and innovate,” concluded George Catlett Marshall Guest, the chamber’s senior vice chairwoman of public policy and public affairs.