It's January, which means state legislatures are getting back to work—and for gambling advocates, that means another round of legal battles. More than 20 states convened this week, and Georgia is once again trying to get sports betting across the finish line. For the eighth consecutive year. Someone buy these lawmakers a drink because they're going to need it.

The Quick Hit

• The count: 20+ state legislatures now in session
• The hot one: Georgia making another push for mobile sports betting
• The stakes: FanDuel might pull its Atlanta tech center if betting doesn't pass by 2027
• The path: Constitutional amendment likely needed, meaning a voter referendum

Georgia: The State That Won't Give Up

You have to admire the persistence. Georgia lawmakers have been trying to legalize sports betting since 2018, and they've failed every single time. Last year's bill didn't even get a floor vote in the House after dying in committee in the Senate.

But the tourism committee dropped a late recommendation supporting mobile sports betting as part of its final report, and proponents are hoping that generates momentum. The problem? Georgia's constitution restricts most forms of gambling, which means any legalization effort probably needs voter approval via referendum.

If that referendum lands on the 2026 ballot, it could actually pass. Public support for sports betting in Georgia is strong. The issue has never been the voters—it's been lawmakers who can't get their act together.

FanDuel's Atlanta Ultimatum

Here's where it gets interesting. FanDuel opened a 68,000 square-foot tech center in Atlanta's Ponce City Market back in 2022, funded partly by a $2.25 million state grant. As part of that deal, they agreed to employ 900 people there within five years—meaning the deadline is 2027.

If sports betting doesn't get legalized, FanDuel might close up shop in Atlanta. That's 900 jobs and a major tech hub at stake. Whether that threat moves the needle with legislators remains to be seen.

Other States to Watch This Week

Georgia isn't the only state with gambling on the agenda:

• Virginia and New York have pre-filed online casino legislation
• Maine is holding its first hearing on a sweepstakes casino ban
• Florida, Mississippi, and Virginia have additional sweepstakes restriction proposals
• Tennessee is dealing with the fallout of ordering Kalshi, Polymarket, and Crypto.com to cease prediction market operations
• Illinois sportsbooks are navigating new per-bet tax proposals that led BetRivers to raise its minimum bet to $5

The Prediction Markets War Continues

Speaking of Tennessee, the broader prediction markets battle is heating up across the country. Multiple states are questioning whether platforms like Kalshi and Polymarket are gambling products that require state licenses or federally-regulated derivatives that supersede state authority.

A Truist Securities analyst thinks this fight is headed to the Supreme Court eventually. In the meantime, expect more states to take aggressive action against prediction markets while operators respond with lawsuits.

The Bottom Line

The 2026 legislative session is going to be a busy one for gambling. Georgia remains the white whale—a massive market that just can't get legal. If they fail again this year, FanDuel's departure could be the wake-up call legislators need. Or they'll keep kicking the can down the road while bettors in neighboring states enjoy their action legally. We've seen this movie before, but maybe this is the year it gets a different ending.