Stop the expansion of gambling through sports betting

On Thursday, Feb. 20 Senator Burt Jones introduced Senate Bill 403, which is the Georgia Lottery Mobile Sports Wagering Integrity Act. This bill is intended to legalize sports betting in Georgia. You can find out more information in this recent Atlanta Journal Constitution article.

NOW is the time to contact your State Senator (click here for Georgia Senator listing or here to find your senator), and ask them to vote NO and to encourage their colleagues to do the same if this bill makes it to the Senate for consideration.

In case you aren’t sure of our (or your) position, we provide several strong reasons for how allowing sports betting would allow greater issues to develop in our communities.

First, sports betting COMPROMISES the integrity of the sport. This is why the Bradley Act (The Professional Amateur Sports Protection Act) was passed by Congress in 1992. Allowing sports betting means allowing betting on any game – even high school games beyond professional levels of play. There is currently no prohibition on the types of games you could bet on if a state allows sports betting. For more information, you can read this article.

Second, sports betting COMPOUNDS the problems already associated with gambling. Social costs and illegal activities will likely increase. We want to shield our families from the problems related to all types of gambling. You can find more information here.

Third, we must protect our children. Sports betting has a CORRUPTING influence on children, because it increases their perception that gambling is a good thing. Our children are the most technologically savvy generation – mobile devices being allowed would give them easy access to illegally play. Please see this resolution for more information.

And, finally, here is a wrap up of why sports betting is a problem for any state.

Thank you for your continued prayers and support!