It was hoped that this would be the year that legalized gambling in Georgia would occur. That vision died when the annual “Crossover Day” session wrapped up on March 13 without the state’s House of Representatives even considering a constitutional amendment to legalize any form of gambling.

As late as just a week, it looked like gambling get a vote from lawmakers. Several within the state legislature were pushing for an initiative to give the Georgia State Lottery the power to offer mobile sports gambling, at the least. The idea of allowing sports gambling is very popular in Georgia, and state representatives were growing concerned about the $1.5 billion sports gambling market operating within the Peach State, with no revenue coming to state coffers.

As the Georgia House of Representatives wrapped up Crossover Day, only one sports betting bill had made it through a legislative chamber. This bill was heard in the state Senate, but no measure was taken up in the legislative body before the Senate adjourned.

Representative Alan Powell attempted to push forth a bill that would legalize three forms of gambling: casinos, sports betting, and horse racing. He proposed a constitutional amendment on March 11 that got through committee and was actually scheduled to be heard on Crossover Day in the House of Representatives. However, the House didn’t even take up the bill before calling it a night.