Georgia's Democrat gubernatorial nominee pushing for sports betting legalization in new ad

Stacey Abrams, Georgia’s Democratic candidate in the gubernatorial race, has criticized Republican Governor Brian Kemp for his opposition to legalized sports betting. Adams said the state is losing potential tax revenue to neighboring Tennessee by keeping the practice illegal.

The gubernatorial candidate’s remarks came at the start of the college football season. Her campaign released on Monday an online ad targeting sports fans, which showcased the popular University of Georgia Bulldogs football team. “While Georgians still place bets, Kemp is forcing them out of state to do it, taking the tax dollars with them,” the advertisement reads.

🏈 Georgia football is back — but thanks to Brian Kemp, sports betting is still off the table.
@staceyabrams believes that if Georgia wins the bet, Georgia should keep the tax money and invest in our young people. pic.twitter.com/Pyfl6Ed5EV

— Team Abrams (@TeamAbrams) September 2, 2022

Kemp has long opposed sports betting legalization, as back as in 2018, when he ran against Abrams for the first time. However, the Georgia Gov. is now taking no position on the subject, spokesman Tate Mitchell said in an email retrieved by Bloomberg. 

Despite this seemingly new neutrality, Kemp has more than once shown opposition to gambling, not an unlikely move given evangelical Christians make up about a third of Republican primary voters in Georgia. Last month, the Gov. reiterated his opposition to expanding gambling in general, and criticized Abrams’ economic plans, which he believes require higher taxes.

Gov. Brian Kemp

Efforts to bring legal sports gaming to the state have failed in the past two legislative sessions, despite the push counting on the support of the state’s sports franchises, including the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons and the NBA’s Atlanta Hawks. Of Georgia’s neighbors, only Tennessee allows sports betting, while a plan to legalize sports gaming in Florida’s tribal casinos is tied up in court.

Despite the past failures, Abrams, a former state House minority leader, is not backing down on her commitment to legalization. The gubernatorial candidate has said that, as a governor, she would push for a constitutional amendment allowing both sports betting and casino gambling. Currently, the Georgia Lottery is the only legal form of gambling in the Peach State.

Abrams narrowly lost to Kemp in 2018, coming closer than any Democratic candidate for governor in more than 20 years. She has been trailing in the polls so far this year, further reports Bloomberg, with a Real Clear Politics polling average showing Kemp ahead by 5.5% points.

According to Committee Chairman Ron Stephens, a Republican who sponsored legislation in the House last legislative session, the industry estimates Georgians illegally spend $1.5 billion in sports betting per year. Georgia is currently one of only four states that don’t have commercial or tribal casinos, pari-mutuel wagering, racetrack betting, iGaming, or sports betting, along with Hawaii, Utah and Vermont.