In 2001, video poker was banned following a special session of the General Assembly. Businesses operating such devices were not allowed to pay cash. Georgia used to have quasi-legal video poker machines, which appeared in the state in the 1990s thanks to a loophole authorizing redemption games in arcade gaming parlors. The Emerald Princess gives its customers access to 200 slot machines, 12 blackjack tables, two roulette wheels, and one craps table. Its Savannah-based competitor, Tradewinds, went out of business in 2015. The Emerald Princess is the only vessel that still offers services of this kind. The only way to enjoy real-money casino games in Georgia legally is to embark on a casino cruise. But the state has never prosecuted anyone for playing on an offshore site. State laws also prohibit the transfer of information that is related to betting. The offense of partaking in illegal gambling is a misdemeanor, and even poker home games are illegal. Georgia Statutes are very strict when dealing with land-based gambling. Georgia hasn’t regulated online gambling, although many offshore gambling sites accept players from the state. Consequently, the number of land-based gambling options in Georgia is minimal – your only option beyond the lottery is charitable gambling. The local state-operated lottery was introduced as late as 1992, almost three decades after many other states had passed similar regulations. Georgia is conservative when it comes to gambling. This lengthy legislative process has been completed only twice, in 1976, when the residents voted in favor of legal bingo, and in 1992, when a state lottery was authorized. Legalizing any form of gambling requires a constitutional amendment. Gambling in Georgia is generally prohibited.

Most gambling-related matters are covered by the Georgia Code, section 16-12-20 et seq.

The minimum gambling age in Georgia is 18. Engaging in illegal gambling constitutes a misdemeanor and is punishable by a fine of up to $1,000 and up to 12 months in jail.

Georgia Code defines illegal gambling as “betting upon the final result of any game or contest, or upon games played with cards, dice, or balls, to win money or other things of value.” This definition is broad enough to cover online gambling and has been applied to skill-based games with an element of luck, such as competitive poker.

Slot machine law by state