Atlanta Sportsbooks
It may seem incomprehensible to sports betting enthusiasts in other parts of the country, but Georgia residents interested in placing wagers at land-based Atlanta sportsbooks have been out of luck for a long time. Even in the wake of the momentous May 2018 decision by the US Supreme Court to overturn the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992 (PASPA), the reality is that Atlanta sportsbooks are probably a distant dream at best and, frankly, an impossibility at worst, given the Peach State’s longstanding political opposition to most any form of gambling. Indeed, Georgia statutes do not leave much room for any form of gambling, as all card games, table games, dice games, wagering on greyhound or thoroughbred horse races all prohibited, the only kind of sports betting Georgia residents have legally been able to engage in has taken place online at legal offshore sportsbook websites.
Nevertheless, there are several casino outlets in nearby states – along with some premier casino cruises that sail from ports in Georgia – that would almost assuredly function as de facto Atlanta sportsbooks if Georgia sports betting were to be made legal in those states even if the activity is never legalized in the Empire State of the South at all. With so much of the gambling world in a state of flux these days following the SCOTUS decision, so many prospective gamblers looking for any place that could lay their money down. We did the research and put together this comprehensive guide and our goal is to give you all the information you might need about three of the locations within reasonable driving distance of the state capital. These are most likely to be the sportsbooks of tomorrow – even if that “tomorrow” is a long time in coming.
Betting On The Super Bowl In Atlanta
For many years, people in north GA have been wondering if they can go to indulge in betting on the Super Bowl in Atlanta. While it is true they can bet on the Super Bowl in the state's capitol, they can't do it at land-based facilities because retail sportsbooks still haven't been legalized in the state. On that note, online sportsbooks is a better options for all Atlanta residents as well. There is more Super Bowl betting options on here and there are better odds as well. All the same betting options will be here that are traditionally found at land-based sportsbooks and even more. What makes these online sportsbooks better is the features like mobile betting and live betting that many players are excited to experience. Sites like Bovada, SportsBetting and others will be the big time sites that a lot of players will sign up for and use during the Super Bowl weekend.
Best Georgia Sports Betting Sites - 100% Trusted + Safe |
Is Sports Betting Currently Legal In Atlanta?
Georgia laws make it abundantly clear that sports betting is not currently legal in Atlanta and elsewhere in the Empire State of the South. Even though this is an unfortunate state of affairs, it really should not come as any surprise for our dedicated readers that Georgia is in the most deeply conservative region in the entire country. It only makes sense that gambling in most forms would not be seen as an acceptable activity in the state, even if many Georgia residents are heavily invested in their state’s most popular sports and plenty of them are interested in and even participate in sports betting on the sly at legal offshore sportsbook websites such as Bovada, BetOnline, SportsBetting, and BetDSI.
When Will Sports Betting In Georgia Be Legal?
Now that PASPA has been laid to rest in an official sense, the possibility exists that Georgia’s lawmakers could change their stance on this issue. However, we do not think that this is a likely outcome for sports wagering in Georgia. If you are a Georgia resident or a visitor to the Peach State, then we do not by any means recommend for you to try out any shady local bookies. That being said, we will still take a closer look at the nearby casino properties that could become the best Atlanta sportsbooks. These casinos will be the first location for sports betting in Georgia; however, residents may have to wait until 2023 at the earliest. There have been efforts to legalize at least state-regulated online sportsbooks. But the general consensus is that it will require a constitutional amendment which can’t happen unless local voters approve it on their 2023 November ballot. But, lawmakers still have to put it on the ballot.
What Is The Legal Age For Betting At Atlanta Sportsbooks?
Since there sports betting is not officially regulated in Atlanta at this moment, online sportsbooks are where all the residents have to place their sports wagers and only require bettors to be 18 to sign up for an account. Once you sign up you have access to all the promotions that you will help you win all kinds of prizes and free gameplay. They're also banking options that make it easy to transfer your money from account to bank. So even though there aren’t any sportsbooks, online sportsbooks do the same thing as a local sportsbook and even more.
Best Sportsbooks In Atlanta
Even though Atlanta’s best sportsbooks are not located in or around Atlanta, there are a few casinos that would make great sportsbooks one day that are located within a reasonable driving distance. In the next few sections, we will take a closer look at a few of the biggest names in the Atlanta-area casino industry in what could be considered a preview of the prospective best Atlanta sportsbooks. These would also be the casinos that would likely host sports wagering and our goal is to give you a better understanding of the possibilities of sports betting in Atlanta
- Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort
- https://www.caesars.com/harrahs-cherokee/
- Type: tribal land-based casino
- Location: Murphy, NC
- Address: 777 Casino Parkway, Murphy, NC 28906
- First Opened: November 1997
- Number of Rooms: 1,100 rooms and suites
- Total Gaming Space: 150,000 square feet
- Top Attractions: Essence (nightclub located at the casino resort), Harrah’s Cherokee Golf at Sequoyah National Golf Club, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Ultra Star Multi-tainment Center (bowling alley with 24 lanes, video game arcade, pool tables, live entertainment venue, event space for VIP and birthday parties), shopping center (located at casino resort)
- Best Restaurants: Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse, Pizzeria UNO, Noodle Car, Johnny Rockets, Brio Tuscan Grille, Selu Garden Café, Soundbytes Rock N Roll Sportsbar
- Owner: Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, Caesars Entertainment
- Phone Number: (828) 497-7777
With a gaming floor 150,000 square feet in area and boasting thousands of slot machines and table games, a massive hotel with more than 1,100 rooms and lavishly appointed suites, and ready access to a PGA Tour-caliber golf course, the sprawling Great Smoky Mountains National Park and multiple live entertainment venues, it is hard to argue against Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort. This incredibly popular gambling center is easily the best sportsbook in Atlanta based on these aforementioned merits. But that is made all the more tragic when one considers the existence of casinos like Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort just 122 miles away from downtown Atlanta. Given the current state of the law in GA, there is no doubt that since sports betting has been legalized in this NC establishment, this Cherokee Tribe-owned property has become the best sportsbook in Atlanta by default, even if it is a good three and a half hours out of town up Interstate 575.
- Harrah’s Cherokee River Valley Casino
- https://www.caesars.com/harrahs-cherokee-valley-river/
- Type: tribal land-based casino
- Location: Murphy, NC
- Address: 777 Casino Parkway, Murphy, NC 28906
- First Opened: Fall of 2015
- Number of Rooms: 300 rooms
- Total Gaming Space: 60,000 square feet
- Top Attractions: Bowling alley with 16 lanes, video game arcade, lounge with stage for live bands
- Best Restaurants: Food court with several different restaurants (Panda Express, Earl of Sandwich, Papa John’s Pizza, Nathan’s Famous hotdogs, Starbucks, etc.)
- Owner: Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, Caesars Entertainment
- Phone Number: (828) 422-7777
The next nearest casino that would make one of the most ideal Atlanta sportsbooks is the Cherokee Valley River Casino in Murphy, North Carolina, just about three hours and some change away from downtown ATL. Like its sister property, the Harrah’s Cherokee Casino, the Cherokee Valley River Casino offers a wide variety of gambling opportunities on its 60,000 square foot gaming floor, including craps, blackjack, roulette, poker, and other popular card and table games to go along with an impressive array of 1,000 slot machines. This place ought to be considered one of the preeminent locations for one of the top sportsbooks in Atlanta, GA, for the simple reason that there are so many fun activities to do there besides gambling, which makes the time you would otherwise spend playing cards or picking winners in the newly renovated sports betting lounge all the more enjoyable. Guests can take advantage of a well-appointed food court with several popular eateries from fine dining to fast food, a video game arcade (and there are not many of those around anymore) a live concert venue and even a bowling alley with 16 lanes.
- Emerald Princess Casino
- https://www.emeraldprincesscasino.com/
- Type: commercial casino cruise line
- Location: Brunswick, GA
- Address: 1 Emerald Princess Drive, Brunswick, GA 31520
- Total Gaming Space: 200-foot ship, four decks (12 blackjack tables, dice games, two roulette tables, eight poker tables, one craps table, several video poker and video blackjack terminals, bingo, triple time and more than 250 slot machines)
- Top Attractions: Open air observation deck
- Best Restaurants: Third deck restaurant and bar
- Owner: Golden Isles Cruise Lines
- Phone Number: (912) 265-7571
If you are adamant about using a gambling outlet that, technically speaking, calls the Empire State of the South home, then you are basically left with no other choice that the Emerald Princess Casino, which is among the most sought after casino cruise ships in the south, and certainly in Georgia. Though the Emerald Princess Casino ship docks Four and a half hours away from downtown Atlanta in Brunswick, the offer of a $10 cruise and meal package for two people is a deal that simply can’t be beat if you and a pal or your significant other want to enjoy a night out on the water. While out to sea, guests can enjoy scoping out the Atlantic from the topmost observation deck, playing cards at any one of 12 blackjack tables or eight poker tables, or really any other of the various amusements on the four decks oIf you are adamant about using a gambling outlet that, technically speaking, calls the Empire State of the South home, then you are basically left with no other choice than the Emerald Princess Casino, which is among the most sought-after casino cruise ships in the south, and certainly in Georgia. Though the Emerald Princess Casino ship docks Four and a half hours away from downtown Atlanta in Brunswick, the offer of a $10 cruise and meal package for two people is a deal that simply can’t be beaten if you and a pal or your significant other want to enjoy a night out on the water. While out to sea, guests can enjoy scoping out the Atlantic from the topmost observation deck, playing cards at any one of 12 blackjack tables or eight poker tables, or really any other of the various amusements on the four decks of the cruise ship as it makes its way through international waters and back. Despite this being the smallest and least convenient casino option for Georgia residents in terms of access, the Emerald Princess Casino is actually the outlet that could have the best statistical chance of becoming the first of what we hope are many Atlanta sportsbooks. How do we figure? Well, consider that most of the time spent aboard the ship at which gambling is actually allowed takes place outside federal or state jurisdiction, so, technically speaking, the Emerald Princess could already be offering a sports betting option if that’s what the showrunners wanted to do.f the cruise ship as it makes its way through international waters and back. Despite this being the smallest and least convenient casino option for Georgia residents in terms of access, the Emerald Princess Casino is actually the outlet that could have the best statistical chance of becoming the first of what we hope are many Atlanta sportsbooks. How do we figure? Well, consider that most of the time spent aboard the ship at which gambling is actually allowed takes place outside federal or state jurisdiction, so, technically speaking, the Emerald Princess could already be offering a sports betting option if that’s what the show runners wanted to do.