Georgians have been having an open debate about sports betting for several years now. Since the Supreme Court cleared the way for states to make their own decisions back in 2018, lawmakers in Georgia have introduced multiple proposals to bring betting out of the shadows and into a regulated marketplace. Some want to run it through the Georgia Lottery; others prefer a constitutional amendment, but one thing everyone agrees with is that the question should be settled here at home.
That’s why it’s so concerning to see Washington and so-called prediction market platforms trying to jump ahead of us.
The Commodity Futures Trading Commission, or CFTC, has been approving so-called “prediction markets” that allow people to bet on sports and other events under the guise of “financial contracts.” They’re proudly running ads claiming they offer “legal” sports betting in all 50 states—bragging about skipping over state processes and ignoring the voices of Georgians deciding this issue for themselves.
In fact, these platforms bypass state laws entirely. They don’t pay Georgia taxes, they don’t follow Georgia’s rules, and they don’t support the responsible gaming programs that would protect Georgia consumers.
The CFTC’s job is to regulate commodities like oil, corn, and natural gas—not to referee football wagers. Georgia’s leaders and voters are already wrestling with how best to craft a legal state-regulated sports betting system that fits our state’s values. Georgians don’t need Washington jumping in and muddying the waters just as we’re trying to get it right.
When the legislature debates this issue, it should be on Georgia’s terms. Whether lawmakers ultimately pass a bill through the Lottery framework or send a constitutional amendment to the voters, that process belongs to Georgia—not to a federal agency created to monitor crop futures.
At the end of the day, this is about governance, not gambling. Georgians are capable of making their own decisions about how, when, and where sports betting should be allowed. We’re having that debate right now, in our state Capitol, through the voices of our elected representatives.
Washington needs to step aside and let us finish the job. Because if sports betting is going to happen in Georgia—and it is—it should happen the Georgia way: responsibly, transparently, and on our own terms.
Retired Senator Gloria Butler, a Democrat, was elected to the State Senate in 1998, and represented DeKalb County for 26 years until her retirement in 2024. Sen. Butler was the highest-ranking female in the Georgia Senate. She held leadership positions every year during her tenure.
