Lawmakers in the Georgia House rejected a proposal to legalize sports betting, leaving the long-running effort to expand gambling stalled again.
House Resolution 450 failed 98-63 during a vote on Friday. The proposal required at least 120 votes to pass.
The defeat marks the second straight year the resolution has failed, leaving Georgia among just 10 states where sports betting remains entirely illegal.
The bill had mixed reactions across the board. Supporters argued that it would raise the state’s economy, while proponents argued that online sports betting would only exploit those suffering from addiction.
Rep. Al Williams supports legalized gambling in Georgia but encouraged fellow Democrats to vote down the measure, as they would have no say in how the revenue is spent.
