The effort to legalize sports gambling has already been rescued from an uncertain fate once this year. But it might not survive an even more serious threat in the final hours of the legislative session.

Lt. Gov. Burt Jones and Senate leaders don’t have the Republican votes to pass the most significant expansion of gambling in decades. And Senate Democrats say they are “locked down” and plan to vote as a bloc against it.

Sen. Marty Harbin (R-Tyrone) listens to a question from Sen. Brandon Beach (R-Alpharetta) after speaking in opposition of SB 57 which would legalize sports betting on day 27 of the legislative session on Thursday, March 2,  2023. (Natrice Miller/ Natrice.miller@ajc.com)

Credit: Natrice Miller / Natrice.Miller@ajc.com

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Credit: Natrice Miller / Natrice.Miller@ajc.com

Why would Democrats oppose legislation that many had supported earlier this year? They are taking their stance in protest of the GOP push to pass new limits on healthcare treatments for transgender youth that Democrats fiercely opposed.

There’s no sign of a thaw, despite Jones’ call for lawmakers to render a “verdict” on the issues this year. Several Democratic senators say they are sticking with their strategy through the day.

After a Jones aide criticized Democrats for their stance, state Sen. Jason Esteves fired back that Republicans are spending their time on divisive legislation “instead of focusing on bipartisan bills to benefit Georgia.”

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In 2020, Gov. Brian Kemp, (at table, left) and Jaehoon Chang, then the president and CEO of Hyundai Motor Group, announced that the South Korean automotive giant was building an electric vehicle plant in Ellabell. (Stephen B. Morton for the AJC)

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This image from video provided by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement via DVIDS shows manufacturing plant employees waiting to have their legs shackled at the Hyundai Motor Group’s electric vehicle plant, Thursday, Sept. 4, 2025, in Ellabell, Ga. (Corey Bullard/U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement via AP)

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