Best Georgia Online Casino Sites in 2024

Are you eager to explore the best online casino options available in Georgia? While real money online casinos are not legal, you have a legal and exciting alternative for gaming in sweepstakes casinos.

Read on to discover your online gambling options in Georgia and how you can have fun playing!

🔑 Key Takeaways

• Explore legal gaming options available to visitors and residents of Georgia
• Uncover the top sweepstakes casinos with engaging games and potential prizes
• Understand Georgia’s gambling regulations and how they shape available gaming choices in the state

Top Sweepstakes Online Casinos in Georgia

Sweepstakes casinos operate legally in Georgia by using a model that allows players to enjoy some of the best online casino games with virtual currencies instead of real money. Players can accumulate Sweepstakes Coins, which can later be redeemed for prizes, including cash options. This structure provides an exciting and legal way to experience the thrill of casino gaming and potentially win real money.

Here are some of the top sweepstakes casinos available to Georgia residents:

Online Gambling in Georgia: An Overview

Georgia prohibits real money online casinos, maintaining a strict approach to gambling regulations. Land-based casino gambling is also generally prohibited, but Georgia offers a unique option with the Emerald Princess Green Riverboat casino. Once the boat sails beyond Georgia’s territorial waters, it provides a venue for gaming enthusiasts to play a variety of casino games legally.

Here’s an overview of the different types of gambling activities and their legalities in the Peach State:

Gambling Type	Legal?	Current Situation	Legal Age
Online Casinos	No	Not legal in Georgia	–
Retail Casinos	No	No legal land-based casinos exist within the state’s borders, aside from riverboat casinos	–
Sweepstakes Casinos	Yes	Legal and operational as they involve virtual currencies instead of real money	21
Bingo Halls	Yes	Bingo and raffles are legal as charitable gaming, conducted mainly by nonprofit organizations	19
Lottery	Yes	State-run lotteries exist, with various draw games and scratch-offs	18
Poker Cardrooms	No	House-banked cardrooms are prohibited	–
Horse Racing	No	Live racing and betting not permitted	–
Sports Betting	No	Currently illegal; future efforts to legalize are ongoing	–
Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS)	Yes	Legal and available online for sports enthusiasts	19

Want to Bet Real Money? The Only Retail Casino in Georgia

If you’re interested in real money gambling, the Emerald Princess Casino offers an exclusive experience as Georgia’s sole retail casino. Located on a luxury yacht, this casino takes players three miles out to sea for gaming, dining, and entertainment.

Emerald Princess Casino in Brunswick

• Website: www.emeraldprincesscasino.com
• Address: 101 Emerald Princess Dr, Brunswick, GA 31523
• Phone Number: (912) 265-3558
• Opening Hours: Thursday-Sunday, various times

How to Declare Taxable Winnings in Georgia

In Georgia, all gambling winnings are taxable and must be reported to the IRS. If you win more than $1,200 playing slots or bingo, or over $1,500 in poker games, you are required to file a Form W-2G. Casinos may withhold up to 24% of your winnings for federal taxes. It is important to keep detailed records of your gambling activities and report all winnings accurately when filing your federal and state tax returns.

History of Gambling in Georgia

Georgia’s gambling history reflects a cautious and often resistant approach to legalization:

• 1976: Legalization of charitable gaming, such as raffles and bingo, marks a small shift towards regulated gambling options.
• 1992: The Lottery for Education Act establishes the first legal lottery, providing over $3.5 billion in funding for state education programs.
• 2002: Legislators close a loophole permitting legal video poker machines, which issued payouts in non-cash forms.
• 2011: Crackdowns are launched against internet cafés acting as covert gambling operations.
• 2012: The legislature approves a casino earmarked to fund an education program, yet Governor Nathan Deal vetoes it, citing insufficient legislative support.
• 2015: The Coast Guard revokes the Tradewinds Casino Cruise license, halting operations that were outside legal boundaries.
• 2017: Governor Nathan Deal expresses conditional openness to gambling discussions linked to education funding, indicating potential changes.
• 2019: New proposals for a racetrack and casino in Atlanta surface, but Gov. Brian Kemp’s opposition to gambling poses challenges to progress.

What’s Next for Georgia Online Casinos?

Georgia shows a cautious stance on expanding gambling, with no immediate plans to legalize real money online casinos. The future of real money online casinos in Georgia remains unclear, with legislative progress currently stagnant. As discussions continue and interest in online gaming grows, Georgia may eventually reconsider its stance, but for now, sweepstakes casinos provide the primary legal avenue for online gaming.

For those interested in how Georgia’s gambling laws compare to those of other states, exploring our guide to state regulations will provide valuable insights.

References

1. “Tradewinds Casino Boat certificate of inspection removed, Coast Guard to perform review of operations”. WTOC. Retrieved Nov 7, 2024.
2. “Georgia is in no rush to expand gambling and Gov. Kemp says that’s okay”. WABE. Retrieved Nov 7, 2024.

Frequently Asked Questions