Georgia is one of the few states that take gambling laws to the extreme. Their definition of gambling is broad, making Georgia a very strict enforcer – or at least a very grey area as it is too broad (which could be good or bad, as in this case).
Those in Georgia can play the state-run Georgia Lottery that is intended to pay for education. It is also possible to play on social poker and casino sites in Georgia, such as Zynga Poker and the. Our selection of the best websites licensed U.S. To play poker games in Georgia. We are here to provide you with the widest range of options in online gambling, the most complete listings for all the online operators who have obtained their licenses issued in the United States. The sites we advise for Georgia residents are legitimate, legal, safe, and offer 24-hour customer service. If you have any issues with the online poker, room you choose you can call customer service any time to help with issues and quick, easy solutions. Georgia Online Casinos View Top Georgia Picks The state of gambling in Georgia is a sad, sad thing. At present, there is exactly one avenue for residents to take – the Emerald Princess Casino, a cruise out of Brunswick with 220 slot machines.
16-12-21.
(A) A person commits the offense of gambling when he:
(a1) Makes a bet upon the partial or final result of any game or contest or upon the performance of any participant in such game or contest;
(a2) Makes a bet upon the result of any political nomination, appointment, or election or upon the degree of success of any nominee, appointee, or candidate; or
(a3) Plays and bets for money or other thing of value at any game played with cards, dice, or balls.
(B) A person who commits the offense of gambling shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.
On top of making a simple gambling offense a misdemeanor, they have gone as far as to make an aggravated gambling offense into a felony. Anyone with a little bit of knowledge of law should know that there are consequences with being charged with a misdemeanor or felony that go beyond the fines and jail time. Georgia is an extremely strict state when it comes to regulating and enforcing gambling.
Gambling Allowed in Georgia
With such strict rules on gambling it would be nearly impossible for players to gamble or play poker. Georgia does have a state lottery that they regulate, but they do not have any regulated commercial or tribal gambling. There are some places that players can go and participate in poker tournament leagues, but they must stay within the law and not charge any entry fee or rake; they do still offer cash prizes as incentive though. Along this line, social gambling is not specifically exempt from the Georgia gambling law, so that can be risky.
There is limited charitable gambling allowed as well, such as bingos and raffles that must be operated by licensed and regulated entities.
Online Poker Law
Estimated Date of Legalized Online Poker in Georgia: 2019-2020
There are two factors that influence whether or not a person can or should play poker online in Georgia; gambling device and transmission laws. Georgia law states that a gambling device is '(D) Any video game machine or device, operated for any consideration, for the play of poker, blackjack, any other card game, or keno or any simulation or variation of any of the foregoing'. This makes a computer a gambling device once a person starts playing poker on it, and that is illegal in Georgia, according to the above.
The transmission law states that no gambling information is to be transmitted or received through the internet. This would include any type of online sports bets, horse and dog races, and online casino-style games.
Land Based Casinos
Georgia has no actual brick and mortar casinos to speak of since they do not allow commercial or tribal gambling in the state. They do have, and allow under strict law, the club-based poker tournaments. Apart from that, the infrastructure is not there at all if anyone were to want to build a casino in Georgia, which between the strict laws and the lower population, it would not be a good fit anyways.
Tribal Stances and Possible Conflicts
Georgia has no tribal gambling, which means there would be no Native American tribes running casinos in the state.
Online Lotteries
Georgia does have a state-run lottery as well as an online lottery. The idea of selling lottery tickets online was approved on July 19, 2012 and has already been put into place, and tickets may now be purchased online. This is a huge step forward, especially for a state with such strict gambling laws, and it looks like a brighter future for the online gambling scene; except for sports betting which is still adamantly illegal.
Online Poker Sites
As there are no specific laws regarding online poker, it is safe to assume that Georgia would be hard pressed to prosecute anyone playing poker online. Because of this, players are still relatively safe and can play poker online; as long as the operator is not in the state. Some poker sites that are open to the residents in Georgia are Ignition Poker and BetOnline.
Poker Websites Legal In Georgia Secretary Of State
The state of gambling in Georgia is a sad, sad thing. At present, there is exactly one avenue for residents to take – the Emerald Princess Casino, a cruise out of Brunswick with 220 slot machines.
Until 2015, there was also the Tradewinds casino cruise out of Savannah, but after the state revoked the boat's inspection certificates, the operation disappeared for good. Even its website is for sale.
The simple truth is that Georgia has some of the strictest and most absolute laws against gambling in the United States. Obviously, these laws extend to casinos, poker, and sports betting in Georgia. There's even a prohibition on horse racing and dog racing – which is something of a rarity, even in prohibitive states. Of course, like most states with strict anti-gambling laws, Georgia offers its residents a state lottery option. This just never makes any sense because gambling is gambling.
Poker Websites Legal In Georgia State
However, hope remains in the Peach State. The 2017 state legislative session saw the introduction of a bill to bring two casinos to Georgia – one in Atlanta and one in Savannah, Columbus, or Augusta. The bill went nowhere and died in February.
The bill, proposed by Sen. Brandon Beach and Rep. Ron Stephens, is such a delicate issue that the word 'casino' isn't even in the bill. Instead, the proposal calls for the establishment of two 'destination resorts.' One resort (the Atlanta location) would require a $2 billion investment. The other resort would only cost a mere $450 million.
So, it's possible Georgians will have some gambling options within their state in the near future. For right now, Georgians are also aided by the state's proximity to Florida and Mississippi, which can offer casinos in decent driving distance. Below is the information for Emerald Princess and the four closest casinos to Georgia's state lines.
Latest Updates
Last updated: June 23, 2020
The Senate Special Judiciary Committee recently added sports betting language onto a traffic ticketing bill (HB 903) that passed the House in March. Lawmakers are hopefully sports betting can bring back revenue lost during the coronavirus pandemic. The measure now moves to the Senate floor for further discussion.
Sweepstakes casinos in Georgia
Social casino site options
Social casino sites are likely the best option for Georgians to pursue their desire to gamble in peace. At present, the big apps – Zynga, Slotomania, Big Fish, and Double Down Casino – are all available via Facebook and the various app stores.
According to the most recent available data, Double Down Casino is the most-used site that featured slot machine play to its patrons. A whopping 6.1 million users a month visited Double Down two years ago, and those numbers have likely gone up since. Double Down offers over 60 different games to site visitors, all for free. Tangiers poker chips for sale. For fans of table games, Double Down also has video poker, blackjack, roulette, bingo, and poker available.
Georgians can also make use of MyVegas, MGM's free comps site. Though they will have to travel to redeem any of their loyalty points, it is still an attractive option. Ultimately, Georgians maintain the same options as everyone else. The shame of it is that these options are, as of right now, the best it gets in Georgia for gambling. (At least until the legislature makes a move.)
Land-based slots options
| Property | Location | Number of Slots |
|---|---|---|
| Harrah's Cherokee Casino Resort | Cherokee, NC | 3,280 |
| Harrah's Cherokee Valley Casino Resort | Murphy, NC | 1,000 |
| Emerald Princess Casino (cruise) | Brunswick, GA | 220 |
| Wind Creek Wetumpka | Wetumpka, AL | unknown |
| Big M Casino (cruise) | Little River, SC | unknown |
Online gambling options
As can be expected in a state with stringent land-based gambling laws, Georgia does not have legal online gambling.
However, due to the relative recency of online gambling's arrival on the scene, there is no specific law banning it either. So, Georgia residents can find options in out-of-state (and probably out-of-country) sites. However, they shouldn't expect open arms and welcome within the power structure of the state.
Operator profile
Emerald Princess Casino
Emerald Princess Casino is a five-night-per-week casino cruise that docks at Brunswick, Georgia.
It is the only option for gambling within state lines in Georgia. The boat itself is a 200-foot vessel with four decks. There are two for gaming, one for dining, and an observation deck. Each night, the boat sails into international waters to allow patrons to gamble beyond the reach of Georgia state law.
Within the two gambling decks, the cruise offers 200 slot machines, 12 blackjack tables, eight poker tables, two roulette wheels, and a craps table. Players pay a $10 entry fee, and cruises last for five-hour segments. The minimum age for entry is 18, and patrons must show a photo ID to enter. The cruise is operated by Golden Isles Cruise Lines, whose sole holding is this cruise. Reviews for the cruise are fair to good.
And that's it, really. The truly best options for gamblers in Georgia are either the two Harrah's Cherokee casinos in North Carolina (for northern Georgia) or Florida's casinos in the Panhandle or Jacksonville (for southern Georgia).
Georgians in the western part of the state can also drive to tribal casinos in Alabama. The best bet for Georgia gamblers right now is to lobby their state representatives and senators to pass the bill before the legislature.The bill would put a casino in Atlanta (likely near Hartsfield International Airport) and another one in one of the other cities.
State legal environment
Online Poker Law
Estimated Date of Legalized Online Poker in Georgia: 2019-2020
There are two factors that influence whether or not a person can or should play poker online in Georgia; gambling device and transmission laws. Georgia law states that a gambling device is '(D) Any video game machine or device, operated for any consideration, for the play of poker, blackjack, any other card game, or keno or any simulation or variation of any of the foregoing'. This makes a computer a gambling device once a person starts playing poker on it, and that is illegal in Georgia, according to the above.
The transmission law states that no gambling information is to be transmitted or received through the internet. This would include any type of online sports bets, horse and dog races, and online casino-style games.
Land Based Casinos
Georgia has no actual brick and mortar casinos to speak of since they do not allow commercial or tribal gambling in the state. They do have, and allow under strict law, the club-based poker tournaments. Apart from that, the infrastructure is not there at all if anyone were to want to build a casino in Georgia, which between the strict laws and the lower population, it would not be a good fit anyways.
Tribal Stances and Possible Conflicts
Georgia has no tribal gambling, which means there would be no Native American tribes running casinos in the state.
Online Lotteries
Georgia does have a state-run lottery as well as an online lottery. The idea of selling lottery tickets online was approved on July 19, 2012 and has already been put into place, and tickets may now be purchased online. This is a huge step forward, especially for a state with such strict gambling laws, and it looks like a brighter future for the online gambling scene; except for sports betting which is still adamantly illegal.
Online Poker Sites
As there are no specific laws regarding online poker, it is safe to assume that Georgia would be hard pressed to prosecute anyone playing poker online. Because of this, players are still relatively safe and can play poker online; as long as the operator is not in the state. Some poker sites that are open to the residents in Georgia are Ignition Poker and BetOnline.
Poker Websites Legal In Georgia Secretary Of State
The state of gambling in Georgia is a sad, sad thing. At present, there is exactly one avenue for residents to take – the Emerald Princess Casino, a cruise out of Brunswick with 220 slot machines.
Until 2015, there was also the Tradewinds casino cruise out of Savannah, but after the state revoked the boat's inspection certificates, the operation disappeared for good. Even its website is for sale.
The simple truth is that Georgia has some of the strictest and most absolute laws against gambling in the United States. Obviously, these laws extend to casinos, poker, and sports betting in Georgia. There's even a prohibition on horse racing and dog racing – which is something of a rarity, even in prohibitive states. Of course, like most states with strict anti-gambling laws, Georgia offers its residents a state lottery option. This just never makes any sense because gambling is gambling.
Poker Websites Legal In Georgia State
However, hope remains in the Peach State. The 2017 state legislative session saw the introduction of a bill to bring two casinos to Georgia – one in Atlanta and one in Savannah, Columbus, or Augusta. The bill went nowhere and died in February.
The bill, proposed by Sen. Brandon Beach and Rep. Ron Stephens, is such a delicate issue that the word 'casino' isn't even in the bill. Instead, the proposal calls for the establishment of two 'destination resorts.' One resort (the Atlanta location) would require a $2 billion investment. The other resort would only cost a mere $450 million.
So, it's possible Georgians will have some gambling options within their state in the near future. For right now, Georgians are also aided by the state's proximity to Florida and Mississippi, which can offer casinos in decent driving distance. Below is the information for Emerald Princess and the four closest casinos to Georgia's state lines.
Latest Updates
Last updated: June 23, 2020
The Senate Special Judiciary Committee recently added sports betting language onto a traffic ticketing bill (HB 903) that passed the House in March. Lawmakers are hopefully sports betting can bring back revenue lost during the coronavirus pandemic. The measure now moves to the Senate floor for further discussion.
Sweepstakes casinos in Georgia
Social casino site options
Social casino sites are likely the best option for Georgians to pursue their desire to gamble in peace. At present, the big apps – Zynga, Slotomania, Big Fish, and Double Down Casino – are all available via Facebook and the various app stores.
According to the most recent available data, Double Down Casino is the most-used site that featured slot machine play to its patrons. A whopping 6.1 million users a month visited Double Down two years ago, and those numbers have likely gone up since. Double Down offers over 60 different games to site visitors, all for free. Tangiers poker chips for sale. For fans of table games, Double Down also has video poker, blackjack, roulette, bingo, and poker available.
Georgians can also make use of MyVegas, MGM's free comps site. Though they will have to travel to redeem any of their loyalty points, it is still an attractive option. Ultimately, Georgians maintain the same options as everyone else. The shame of it is that these options are, as of right now, the best it gets in Georgia for gambling. (At least until the legislature makes a move.)
Land-based slots options
| Property | Location | Number of Slots |
|---|---|---|
| Harrah's Cherokee Casino Resort | Cherokee, NC | 3,280 |
| Harrah's Cherokee Valley Casino Resort | Murphy, NC | 1,000 |
| Emerald Princess Casino (cruise) | Brunswick, GA | 220 |
| Wind Creek Wetumpka | Wetumpka, AL | unknown |
| Big M Casino (cruise) | Little River, SC | unknown |
Online gambling options
As can be expected in a state with stringent land-based gambling laws, Georgia does not have legal online gambling.
However, due to the relative recency of online gambling's arrival on the scene, there is no specific law banning it either. So, Georgia residents can find options in out-of-state (and probably out-of-country) sites. However, they shouldn't expect open arms and welcome within the power structure of the state.
Operator profile
Emerald Princess Casino
Emerald Princess Casino is a five-night-per-week casino cruise that docks at Brunswick, Georgia.
It is the only option for gambling within state lines in Georgia. The boat itself is a 200-foot vessel with four decks. There are two for gaming, one for dining, and an observation deck. Each night, the boat sails into international waters to allow patrons to gamble beyond the reach of Georgia state law.
Within the two gambling decks, the cruise offers 200 slot machines, 12 blackjack tables, eight poker tables, two roulette wheels, and a craps table. Players pay a $10 entry fee, and cruises last for five-hour segments. The minimum age for entry is 18, and patrons must show a photo ID to enter. The cruise is operated by Golden Isles Cruise Lines, whose sole holding is this cruise. Reviews for the cruise are fair to good.
And that's it, really. The truly best options for gamblers in Georgia are either the two Harrah's Cherokee casinos in North Carolina (for northern Georgia) or Florida's casinos in the Panhandle or Jacksonville (for southern Georgia).
Georgians in the western part of the state can also drive to tribal casinos in Alabama. The best bet for Georgia gamblers right now is to lobby their state representatives and senators to pass the bill before the legislature.The bill would put a casino in Atlanta (likely near Hartsfield International Airport) and another one in one of the other cities.
State legal environment
Poker Websites Legal In Georgia Counties
| Permitted/Offered? | Notes & Restrictions | |
|---|---|---|
| Land-based Gambling | No | Bill in state legislature would permit two casinos |
| Online Gambling | No | |
| Lottery | Yes | State lottery and Powerball multi-state lottery available |
| Charitable or House-based Gambling | Yes | Only charitable raffles are permitted – no bingo or pull tabs |
| Minimum Gambling Age | 18 for lottery and the one casino cruise |
