Many people contact our law office to ask, “What is illegal gambling in Georgia?” Most gambling is illegal in Georgia, with only a few exceptions allowed. The only forms of gambling allowed in Georgia are the Georgia State Lottery, charitable raffles, and bingo games.
The minimum gambling age in Georgia is 18 years for the lottery and bingo. Georgia defines gambling as betting on games or contests or playing cards, dice, or ball games to win money or valuable items. Below are the key points about gambling laws in Georgia.
Is gambling legal in Georgia? For the most part, no it is not. Illegal gambling is a crime in Georgia. It can lead to misdemeanor charges with harsh penalties upon conviction. Penalties may include up to 1 year in jail. Fines can exceed $1,000, or both jail time and fines. Other sentencing penalties include extended probation, and asset seizure in some cases.
If you need help with your gambling case, call GA gambling lawyer Larry Kohn at (404) 567-5515. You can get a free consultation and case review. Even participating in illegal gambling as a player can result in misdemeanor charges. Larry can also represent you if authorities arrest you for running a gambling enterprise.
Georgia has relatively strict gambling laws that prohibit most forms of gambling, including:
- Gambling casinos
- Horse racing and dog racing
- Sports betting aka sports book (betting on professional sports teams and other sports events)
- Online gambling (internet gambling)
- Commercial gambling operations (running a gambling hall or racetrack)
- Maintaining gambling places or equipment (slot machines) to support gambling activities
When Will Lawmakers Legalize Sports Betting in Georgia?
Georgia lawmakers are working to pass a bill that legalizes more gambling forms, especially passing a sports betting bill. However, lawmakers have not passed any sports wagering laws yet in 2024. Concerns about legalizing a bet on sports include a sharp increase in gambling addiction.
What Are the Penalties for an Illegal Gambling Conviction?
The penalties for illegal gambling in Georgia can be fairly strict when compared to other states’ sentencing. If you take part in the crime, it is called a misdemeanor. You could go to jail for up to 12 months. You might also have to pay a fine of up to $1,000.
A commercial gambling offense is much different. These laws affect owners of illegal sports betting, horse and dog tracks, card game gambling halls, and online gambling sites. Operating illegal gambling businesses or keeping a place for gambling carries harsher felony penalties.
Authorities classify a commercial gambling charge as a felony, punishable by 1-5 years in prison and/or a fine up to $20,000. Authorities classify keeping a gambling place as a misdemeanor of a high and aggravated nature. A conviction is punishable by up to 12 months in jail and/or a fine up to $5,000. Penalties can increase for repeat offenses or large-scale operations.
How Does a Conviction for Illegal Commercial Gambling Impact Business Licensing and Permits?
License Revocation: A gambling conviction can result in the revocation of state and local business licenses. The Georgia Lottery Corporation (GLC) can revoke all state and local licenses. This applies to businesses that participate in illegal gambling.
If a business has Coin Operated Amusement Machines (COAMs), they can lose their COAM license. This can happen if the business has a gambling conviction. This is particularly relevant for businesses that derive income from legal Class B COAMs.
Liquor License Jeopardy: A commercial gambling conviction may result in the loss of a business’s liquor license.
If you have a gambling conviction, you might lose your license. This means you cannot sell Georgia Lottery tickets. This would stop the business from selling lottery tickets. Lottery tickets can be a big source of income for some retailers.
A gambling conviction can make it difficult to obtain new business licenses or permits. This is true even after serving any criminal penalties. This can severely limit future business opportunities.
Fines and Penalties: Besides criminal penalties, the GLC can charge business owners up to $50,000 for gambling offenses. These fines are separate from and in addition to any criminal fines imposed by the court.
Asset Seizure: Sometimes, law enforcement can take business assets linked to illegal gambling. This may include equipment, cash, and even the property itself.
These consequences can occur even if the gambling was done using legal machines or services. It’s important to keep this in mind.
Georgia has strict gambling laws. Even small violations can have serious consequences for business owners. These violations can impact their licenses and permits. This can affect their licenses and permits.
How Does a Conviction for Illegal Gambling Affect Your Criminal Record?
A gambling conviction, whether a misdemeanor or felony, will likely appear on background checks. Employers and landlords often use these checks. Most simple gambling offenses in Georgia classify as misdemeanors. A misdemeanor gambling conviction would result in a criminal record.
A conviction for illegal gambling can lead to a permanent criminal record. This record can hurt your chances of getting a job. It can also impact personal relationships, like divorce and child custody cases. Having a gambling conviction on one’s record can make it more difficult to:
- Find employment
- Secure housing
- Obtain loans or credit
- Maintain professional licenses in some fields
Georgia has strict expungement rules, making it hard to remove a gambling conviction from your record once it is on there.
A conviction for illegal gambling in Georgia will create a criminal record. This record can have serious long-term effects on many parts of your life. The impact varies between misdemeanors and felonies, but both create a permanent record that can influence future opportunities.
Call criminal lawyer Larry Kohn today at (404) 567-5515 if authorities have charged you with illegal gambling. Larry will carefully explain what happens next in court, and how he plans to get the charge reduced or dismissed entirely.