Prediction Markets Change the Game as Georgia, Alabama, Wisconsin Eye Sports Betting in 2026
Alabama is one of the most restrictive states when it comes to gambling laws. That could change if U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville becomes the new governor.
The Republican lawmaker and former Auburn football coach supports a public referendum on a state lottery, with Alabama being just one of five U.S. states without one.
The Alabama Policy Institute projected in late 2023 that legalization could generate between $200 million and $300 million annually.
Speaking on local radio’s “The Jeff Poor Show,” Tuberville said that the governor should give a balanced view of topics for voters. Then it’s up to individuals to weigh up the pros and cons before submitting their vote.
He also mentioned sports betting, horse racing, and greyhound racing during the conversation.
Tuberville is the strong favorite to become governor in the staunchly Republican state after the November election, polling strongly ahead of Ken McFeeters to be the party’s nominee.
Having the support of the governor doesn’t guarantee anything will change. Current Gov. Kay Ivey has been in the position since 2017 and has publicly supported a proposal in 2024 to introduce a lottery.
Despite her backing and the House passing a version of the bill, the Senate ultimately failed to advance it. That measure also included provisions for statewide sports betting and casinos.
Is This the Year for Georgia?
Neighboring Georgia is the third-biggest state that has yet to legalize sports betting. Attempts to change this in 2025 made little progress, as two bills didn’t reach the floor. The year did finish on a positive note, though, as a Georgia Senate study committee in December recommended legalizing mobile sportsbooks to increase tax revenue and tourism.
Speaking with Gambling Insider, ESPN sports betting reporter David Purdum believes the widespread availability of prediction markets nationwide makes it inevitable that states such as Georgia, Texas, and California will introduce sportsbooks. Sports betting will happen regardless through prediction sites, so the moral question goes out the window. The Georgia resident says that states can legalize the activity and at least generate some tax revenue that can then go toward good causes.
Purdum believes that Georgia lawmakers are getting closer every year to passing a bill. He thinks that the rise of prediction markets could potentially be a tipping point for what’s been a coin toss in recent legislative sessions.
Strong Support for Online Sportsbooks in Wisconsin
In Wisconsin, Assembly Majority Leader Tyler August spoke to Spectrum News on the legislature’s plans in 2026 to allow online sports betting. Tribes have been able to offer retail sports betting on their land since late 2021, but mobile wagering remains unavailable.
August said that the state is following the example of Gov. Ron DeSantis in Florida. The Seminole Tribe signed a compact with DeSantis in April 2021 to offer statewide sports betting exclusively, once its servers were located on tribal land. The agreement underwent several years of legal action after a federal judge ruled in November 2021 that the “hub-and-spoke” server model was invalid.
The matter rumbled on until the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear the case in June 2024, which meant that a June 2023 appellate court ruling, which overturned the November 2021 decision and found the compact was compliant with federal law, stood.
August said in the interview that “we let another state go through the process of litigation” to ensure that the “hub-and-spoke” approach was legally airtight.
August admitted that he himself has no interest in placing bets, but that many Wisconsinites do. He said that he knows of people driving across state lines to Illinois to bet.
Lawmakers are now working on a bipartisan bill ahead of the next legislative session that begins on Tuesday. The idea would be to work with each tribe to create individual compacts if they were interested in offering online sports betting.
Previous attempts to push through online sportsbooks have fallen short in Wisconsin. Most recently, Lawmakers pulled Assembly Bill 601 just hours before a vote was scheduled in November. Some lawmakers raised concerns about specific aspects of the bill, prompting its removal from consideration.
August said at the time that they would work through the necessary changes and that he expects to vote on the matter in early 2026. Gov. Tony Evers is in favor of sports betting, once the tribes are on board.
With moral reasons no longer being a viable argument in Georgia due to the rise of prediction markets, a possible reopening of the lottery debate in Alabama, and Wisconsin lawmakers preparing for another push for online sports betting, all three states could be ready for pivotal gambling discussions this year.
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