Industry-backed political committees also target opponents of gambling expansion as they try to overcome longstanding roadblocks in the General Assembly.
State Rep. Kasey Carpenter, R-Dalton, speaks in support of House Resolution 450, a sports betting measure, at the Capitol in Atlanta on Crossover Day, Friday, March 6, 2026. Carpenter is one of numerous lawmakers supported by the sports-betting industry in last week’s primary election. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)
Sports betting firms have had a tough time trying to legalize their product in Georgia, but a recent blitz of campaign spending suggests the industry believes its fortunes could change.
Political committees largely funded by sports betting companies spent nearly $10 million on 34 legislative races ahead of last week’s primary and recent special elections. An Atlanta Journal-Constitution review found the industry’s favored candidates won or advanced to a runoff in all but two of those races.
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David Wickert writes about the state budget, finance and voting issues. Previously, he covered local government and politics in Gwinnett and Fulton counties. Before moving to Atlanta, he worked at newspapers in Illinois, Tennessee, Virginia and Washington.
