What Is Illegal Gambling In GA? Georgia Gambling Laws

Many people contact our law office to ask, “What is illegal gambling in GA?” Most gambling is illegal in Georgia, with only a few exceptions allowed. Georgia defines gambling as betting on games or contests. or playing cards, dice, or ball games to win money or valuable items.

The only forms of gambling allowed in Georgia are the Georgia State Lottery, charitable raffles, and bingo games.

Is gambling legal in Georgia? For the most part, it is not. Illegal gambling is a crime in Georgia. A violation of Georgia gambling laws 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 Atlanta criminal 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 2026. Concerns about legalizing a bet on sports include experiencing a sharp increase in citizens who have a gambling addiction.

What Are The Penalties For Illegal Gambling In GA?

The penalties for an illegal gambling conviction 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 offenders 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.

What Do Georgia Gambling Laws Consider Illegal Gambling?

Georgia bans most forms of gambling, including casinos, sports betting, and unregulated online gambling.
Only the state lottery, charitable raffles, and certain bingo games are allowed.

• Betting on sports or fantasy sports outside narrow exceptions is risky.

• Running or playing in underground casinos can lead to criminal charges.

• Internet gambling sites that accept Georgia players are usually illegal.

Can I Go To Jail For Using Gambling Machines In A Store Or Bar?

Unlicensed coin‑operated gambling machines can lead to criminal charges for both the owner and sometimes the player.​
Prosecutors may argue that payouts in cash or prizes turn these machines into illegal gambling devices.

• Business owners can face fines, probation, or even jail.

• Law enforcement can seize machines, cash, and business assets.

• Hiring an attorney early can help protect your property and licensing.

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 the machines, 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.

How Does a Conviction for Illegal Gambling Affect Your Criminal Record?

A gambling conviction, whether a misdemeanor or felony, will likely appear on employer background checks. Future 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 better employment
• Secure housing
• Obtain loans or credit
• Maintain professional licenses in some fields

Recent Georgia Gambling Cases FAQs (2025–2026)

In 2025 and 2026 Georgia law enforcement and federal agencies have continued to treat illegal gambling as a high‑priority enforcement area, especially where there is a business operation or organized activity. Recent cases range from local COAM raids in small towns to multi‑state federal investigations involving online sports betting, poker, and money‑laundering allegations. These cases highlight that even when gambling activity is not violent, prosecutors will pursue aggressive charges when they believe a business is profiting from unlicensed or illegal betting. They also show that investigations often run for months or years before arrests are made, meaning business owners may be under surveillance long before they realize there is a problem.

Have There Been Recent COAM And Convenience Store Raids In Georgia?

Yes. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation’s Commercial Gambling Unit (CGU), working with local law enforcement and the Georgia Lottery, continues to raid stores and small businesses suspected of running unlicensed coin‑operated amusement machines or paying cash for credits. In one 2024 Coffee County case, for example, investigators alleged that a business was operating unlicensed COAMs and paying out cash to customers, leading to charges like operating unlicensed COAMs, commercial gambling, possession of gambling devices, and keeping a gambling place.

The GBI emphasized that, under Georgia gambling laws, COAM credits can only be redeemed for merchandise, fuel, or lottery tickets—not cash. These cases make clear that “everybody does it” is not a defense, the same way GA drivers try to justify speeding by saying that everybody speeds in Atlanta. Georgia closely monitors COAM locations and treats cash payouts as illegal gambling in GA.

Are Georgia Gambling Laws Changing In 2026?

At the same time that prosecutors are filing cases, lawmakers and regulators in Georgia continue to debate whether and how to expand legal gambling options such as sports betting. Proposals in 2024 and 2025 would have authorized the Georgia Lottery Commission to license mobile sports betting, but those bills stalled in the House, leaving sports betting illegal in GA for now.

Because of these failures, Georgia still has a relatively restrictive gambling landscape compared to neighboring states, and many activities that people assume are legal remain against the law. Until the legislature actually changes the statutes, anyone involved in informal betting pools, unlicensed gaming machines, or online gambling platforms remains at risk of prosecution under existing Georgia gambling laws.

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. Meet with him at one of our metro Atlanta law firm offices for a free consultation. Get free lawyer advice and learn about payment plans. (404) 567-5515 any time.