Along with prominent Atlanta sports teams, the PGA Tour gaming is aggressively lobbying Georgia lawmakers to legalise sports betting.
The head of the PGA Tour’s gaming division, Scott Warfield, spoke to Georgia lawmakers less than twenty-four hours after the Tour Championship ended at East Lake.
The Falcons, Braves, Hawks and Atlanta United are among the professional teams in Atlanta that support legalizing sports betting through mobile apps, and this campaign aligns with their stance.
“This is a way to get the core fan engaged longer on our sport,” Warfield said, underscoring the advantages of fan engagement. “They pay close attention to the tournaments and interact with our content more.”
In the meantime, Georgia’s House Study Committee on Gaming is now examining the possibility of legalizing casinos and sports betting.
Renewed Legislative Interest Amid Tax Policy Shifts
A plan to abolish Georgia’s state income tax, which would necessitate the development of new revenue sources, is linked to a renewed interest in legalizing sports betting, despite the legislative failures of the past decade.
With over $110m (~£81m) in revenue from betting taxes and licence fees, North Carolina’s legalisation effort is a prime example.
Warfield pointed out that sports betting could attract a younger audience to golf, noting, “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 storylines we have on the PGA Tour.”
Opposition still exists, though, with some voices—like Mike Griffin of the Baptist Mission Board—comparing the legalization of sports betting to other contentious social issues.
To prepare for potential legislative action soon, the House Study Committee has scheduled two additional meetings before presenting its recommendations to the General Assembly.
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