In a move that some compare to a filibuster, the Georgian Senate introduced a resolution on Wednesday that would establish a committee to investigate gambling in Georgia.
This comes as debate rages surrounding House Bill 237, which is before the Senate and proposes legalizing sports betting in Georgia.
SR 394 proposes to create a “Senate Study Committee on the Creation of a Robust Wagering Ecosystem in the State of Georgia.” The development suggests that a considerable number of senators are not in favor of the bill, but have instead chosen to explore options for implementing wider gambling opportunities in Georgia.
The committee, according to the resolution, will be tasked with the objective of producing a report that can assist legislators in making informed decisions and is to continue to operate until December 1, 2024.
But considering that Georgia’s lawmakers have less than a week to act on sports betting legalization in 2023 before the legislative session comes to an end on Wednesday, some say the resolution is no different from a filibuster.
Daniel Wallace, a sports wagering and betting law expert, wrote an alternative headline for the introduction of the resolution on Twitter. ‘Alternative title: “How Not To Pass A Sports Betting Bill in 2023,” he tweeted.
If formed, the Senate committee would include 10 members made up of various senior members of the government.
