Georgia is by no means a great friend to the gambling industry, with anti-gambling traditions in the state dating back to over a century. So for lawmakers to continue to tolerate Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) in the state, it says a lot about the skill and dedication contestants must need to be the best. To learn about the ins and out of DFS betting and its legality in the state, keep reading.

Todd Winkler, Editor at online-gambling.com

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Todd Winkler has been an editor at online-gambling.com for 6 years. His focus is on guides and articles about poker games, blackjack, and DFS. With relatives in New Zealand, he is also well aware of the gambling industry in the country.

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Online Daily Fantasy Sports in Georgia – Overview

Georgia’s gambling laws are harsh to say the least. Popular gambling attractions like casinos, horse racing, and sports betting are all illegal in the state, and Daily Fantasy Sports are only tolerated due to their being technically no law against it. In recent years, a number of bills have been introduced to legalize DFS, but none of them have been passed into law by the end of the annual legislature sessions.

The main argument for DFS legalization is that fantasy sports are a game of skill as opposed to games of chance. In a state as vehemently hostile to gambling as Georgia, this is an important distinction and may be what ends up saving it from the same fate as casino gambling. In the meantime, Georgia residents can make the most of the relaxed laws on DFS and begin to draft their teams now.

Below, we have listed the top sports leagues in Georgia and how they can be played.

Online Daily Fantasy NFL – A Money-Making Touchdown

As the home to the Atlanta Falcons, Georgia’s residents have a deep connection to the National Football League. In the NFL Fantasy League, players are asked to draft 9 NFL stars into their lineup in either public or private contests, their choices only limited by a salary cap. Cash prizes are won at the end of every week before players are to choose a brand new lineup. This happens weekly until the end of the season.

Online Daily Fantasy NBA – A Slam Dunk Winner

Fact: the Atlanta Hawks is one of only four National Basketball Association teams to have qualified to play in 10 consecutive playoffs in the 21st century. Another fact: you can choose any current Hawks player to make up your NBA Fantasy draft! In NBA Fantasy, players are asked to draft a lineup of 8 players from at least two different NBA games. Contests are won by having the highest total points scored by your chosen players.

Online Daily Fantasy MLB – A Home Run To The Bank

The Atlanta Braves have a history of inducting talent to the Baseball Hall of Fame, so it would be no surprise if Georgia’s residents’ teams were full of Braves players. In MLB Fantasy, players are to build a team of 10 players. The teams must include players that are on that week’s playing roster, have no more than 5 hitter and be playing in at least two different MLB games. Scoring is varied, including 10 points for a home run, 5 points for stealing bases, etc.

Online Daily Fantasy MLS – Goal!

As the most recent winners of the MLS Cup, everyone has their eyes on the Atlanta United FC. Players of the MLS Fantasy League all across the country will be fighting for Atlanta players to asks draft in their fantasy teams of 8 players. As always, contests are won by players scoring points, e.g. Goals score 10 points while Red Cards earn -3. With the Atlanta United FC being one of the most popular teams in the whole MLS, this may be one of the most exciting fantasy leagues to play in the state.

College Football – Georgia Bulldogs

College sports are popular in Georgia, with Georgia State, Georgia Southern and the University of Georgia all having great collegiate programs that have gone on to produce national athletic talent. The University of Georgia is home to the NCAA’s Georgia Bulldogs, which is perhaps the most popular and successful team in the state.

For Georgians who can’t decide on which of Georgia’s great university teams they prefer, fantasy sports offer a great way to build a team from the best of all of them.

Timeline of Daily Fantasy Sports Legislation

There are only two gambling activities that have specifically been made legal in the conservative state of Georgia – the state lottery and bingo. This means that even DFS is not technically legal but tolerated by lawmakers until proper legislation is introduced on the matter. While there are efforts being made to introduce laws on DFS, there seems to be little to no rush in making this happen.

Over Georgia’s history, there have been a few defining moments that have led to their current position on gambling matters. For more information on gambling in the state, visit our dedicated Georgia gambling page.

Legal Daily Fantasy Betting Age in Georgia

Because DFS is not technically legal in Georgia, there isn’t technically a legal gambling age for players. Despite this, DFS operators only allow players that are 18 years and older, while Georgia only allows players who are over 18 to participate in the state lottery. If a player is caught gambling underage, it is considered a misdemeanor and is punishable with no longer than a year in prison or a fine of $5,000.

• DFS Betting Age
  Players must be over 18 years old to legally gamble in Georgia.
• Alcohol Age
  The legal drinking age in Georgia is 21 years old.
• Weed Age
  Recreational cannabis smoking is illegal in Georgia.

Is Daily Fantasy Betting Legal Outside of the State?

Daily Fantasy League betting is legal in most states in the USA, with only nine states yet to legalize it left – including Georgia. Some of these states include Hawaii, Nevada, and >Idaho. Georgia is still on the fence as to whether to confirm that DFS is not a game of chance but rather a game of skill. Other states simply find all forms of gambling to be amoral and are unlikely to make progress on legalizing DFS anytime in the near future. Meanwhile, you can check out our Tennessee daily fantasy betting page to learn more about one of the states where this form of gambling is permitted.

The Best Fantasy Sports App in Georgia

Thankfully, you aren’t limited to playing Fantasy Sports on your desktop computer. Most major DFS operators have created apps that allow players to enjoy their weekly DFS betting with ease. Based on our experience, we recommend the Draft Kings app the most for DFS betting.

Taxes on Daily Fantasy Winnings: Legal Overview

Your winnings from DFS are subject to federal taxes in Georgia. Gambling winnings are fully taxable at a rate of 25% for federal taxes, and state taxes consider gambling winnings to be classed as income and are taxed accordingly to residents’ tax classes. For more info, visit the website of the IRS or the Georgia Department of Revenue.

Upcoming Regulation Changes to Be Aware Of

It is hard to predict when any changes to Daily Fantasy Sports regulations will change in Georgia. While many states have legalized DFS in the past few years, Georgia’s intentions on the matter are currently unpredictable. Progress in the state will all depend on whether or not the majority of the state Senate can agree to rule in favor of legalization.

Hopefully, with many Georgia residents currently enjoying the legal grey area of betting, a large enough constituency of voters will be able to convince lawmakers that there is skill involved in DFS betting and pressure them to allow it.

Gambling Guides for Nearby States

• Alabama
• Tennessee
• North Carolina
• South Carolina