Casinos in Georgia

Jane Shaw By Jane Shaw Editor at Casinos.US Updated: April 4, 2024
Jane Shaw Jane Shaw Editor at Casinos.US See Full Bio

We count on Jane to inform our readers about the latest slot games in the US market. With her passion for video games and a degree in engineering, she's our gambling tech expert. Jane's also active in our blog section, where she tackles the curiosities and changes in the industry.

Georgia Casino Map - List of Gambling Locations

Georgia Casino Map

The Best Casino in Georgia

Georgia Best Casinos
Slots
250
Special Services
  • Dining
  • Swimming pool
  • Theatre

The Biggest Casino in Georgia

Georgia Biggest Casino

Are There Indian Casinos in Georgia?

All casinos, including Indian casinos, are not permitted in Georgia, so you won’t find any Georgia casinos at all. The only option for those wanting a casino experience within the state is to head to the cruise ship casino in Brunswick, which sails out of state lines to allow gambling. Alternatively, the neighboring states of Florida, Alabama and North Carolina have casinos that Georgia residents can visit.

Racinos

A racino is essentially a horse racing track with a casino, and you won’t find any of them in Georgia. This is because both casinos and betting on horses is not permitted. It is possible to hop the border and bet on horses in both Alabama and Florida though.

Are There Cruise Ship or Riverboat Casinos in Georgia?

There is one cruise ship casino in Georgia, called the Emerald Princess. While gambling in Georgia is illegal in nearly all forms, the ship is able to get around this by taking passengers out to sea and out of the jurisdiction of Georgia. Once far enough out, it is legal for passengers to play a whole range of casino games.

Full Georgia Casino List

Below you’ll find the full list of casinos in Georgia, including their address. The list is a very short one, however we’ll add more venues should the state ever relax its strict laws on gambling and allow more venues to open.

Choose a City
Choose a Type
All Casinos in Brunswick
Emerald Princess Brunswick 1 Emerald Princess Drive, Brunswick, 31523 Cruise Ships/Riverboats
 

Expected New Casinos

There are no plans for any casinos to be built in Georgia, as the state has some of the most restrictive gambling laws in the whole country. This means that you won’t be finding any gambling towns in Georgia any time soon.

Gambling in Georgia

Looking to find out some facts about gambling in Georgia? If so, you’ll find loads of information in the table below, including information on the legal gambling age and what games can be found in the state.

Georgia Gambling Topics Gambling Facts for Georgia
Number of Casinos 1
Casino Types Cruise Ships/Riverboats
Casino Games Offered Slots, Casino Poker, Poker Cash and Poker Tournaments, Roulette, Blackjack, Dice Games, Lottery, Other Games,
Age 21+ Casino,
Smoking Yes/No*, *Smoking inside is prohibited but there are external smoking areas in each Georgia casino
Drinking Yes/No*, *Drinking while playing is allowed, but no free alcoholic drinks are served
Opening Hours
24/7 , Some casinos are closed on Easter and Christmas. Check the brands pages for more info
Betting Limit No legal limits
Taxation of Winnings Yes/No, for additional details click here

Casino Games in Georgia

You’ll find that the cruise ship casino in Georgia offers an impressively large array of games, from slots through to table games. You can find out which casino games are offered in Georgia when you take a look through the table below…

Slot
  • Colossal Wizards
  • Li’l Red
  • Spartacus Gladiator of Rome
  • Forbidden Dragons
  • Queen of the Wild II
  • Lazer Lock Ice Sapphire
  • 225 different slots available to play
  • Types: Traditional Reel, Video Reel, Video Poker Free Slot Tournaments
Casino Poker
  • Let it Ride
  • Flop Poker
  • Limit Holdem
  • No Limit Holdem
Poker Cash and Poker Tournaments
  • Crazy 4 Poke
  • Fortune Pai Gow
  • Sharp Shooter
  • Razz
  • Limit Holdem
  • NL Holdem
Roulette
  • American Roulette
  • European Roulette
Blackjack
  • Any 2 Card Blackjack
  • Spanish 21
  • Hand-Held Deck
  • Shoe Game
  • Single Deck
  • Double Deck
  • 6-deck shoes used
  • Minimum bet usually $5
Dice Games
  • Craps
  • Sic Bo
  • Hazard
  • Chuck-A-Luck
Lottery Games
  • Keno
  • 75 Ball Bingo
  • 90 Ball Bingo
  • Daily Lotto Draws
  • Mini Lottos
  • Scratchers
Other Games
  • Electronic Craps
  • Electronic Blackjack
  • Electronic Roulette
  • Electronic 3-Card Poker
Sports Betting
  • None Offered

Gambling Legal Situation in Georgia

When was casino gambling legalized in Georgia?
Casino gambling, including gambling in Indian casinos, is not legal in Georgia.
Online gambling
Online gambling is illegal in state of Georgia.
What is the legal gambling age in Georgia?
In order to gamble on the Emerald Princess guests must be 21 or over.
Can you smoke in Georgia casinos?
Smoking is permitted on the Emerald Princess but only in designated areas.
Horse racing / Off-Track betting
Betting on horses in all forms is not permitted in Georgia.
Dog racing / Off-Track betting
It is not possible to bet on dog racing in the state.
Georgia charitable gaming
Despite the incredibly strict laws on gambling, charitable gaming in the forms of bingo and raffles are legal.
Other legal restrictions
There is a legal lottery in Georgia, which players must be 18+ to participate in.

Taxation of Winnings

Should you win money on a cruise boat, it will be considered taxable and must be reported to the IRS. This means that tax of 24% will be paid on anything won over the threshold for the particular game ($1200 for slots) or 300x the initial bet or more. No state tax is paid though. Anyone winning $5,000 or more in the lottery in Georgia will have to pay state income tax though. They will also have to pay federal tax on the win. We gladly provided you with answers to some of your questions.

Prize ($) $5,000+ (any prize) Georgia Gross Income Tax (%)6

Georgia Gambling Laws

Unfortunately for gambling fans, there haven’t been many laws passed in Georgia to legalize the pastime. In fact, aside from the lottery and charitable gaming, no forms of gambling have been legalized. Below you can see the individual pieces of legislation banning gambling and permitting lotteries.

  • O.C.G.A. (2010)

    This law makes all commercial gambling illegal in Georgia

  • Lottery for Education Act

    Established a legal lottery in Georgia

History

The history of gambling in Georgia isn’t long, due to the state’s strict stance on the subject. You can see a timeline of the main events below…

Georgia history image
history-georgia-img2.jpg The Emerald Princess is the only legal casino found anywhere in Georgia.
history-georgia-img3.jpg
  • 1878 Georgia bans the sale of lottery tickets.

  • 1976 Charitable gaming in the forms of bingo and raffles are legalized.

  • 1993 The first legal sales of lottery tickets take place in the state.

  • 2012 Senate votes to establish a casino to pay for education. The bill is never signed into law.

Upcoming Changes in the Gambling Regulation

There have recently been moves to expand gambling in Georgia, however they have been unsuccessful. House Resolution 378 sought to ask voters whether the state should legalize all forms of gambling, however it was not successful. The fact that efforts are being made to legalize gambling at all in this traditionally anti-gambling state is encouraging.

Georgia Casino Resorts and Trips

If you’re in Georgia and want to gamble, you’ve got two options: head to the cruise ship or hop state lines into a neighboring state. Below, you can see three hotels offering accommodation near to the Emerald Princess cruise ship, plus we’ve also found some companies who offer tours to casinos in other state.

Casino Resorts

If you’re taking a trip on the Emerald Princess, you might want to spend some time in Brunswick before or after the cruise. We’ve listed three hotels in the Brunswick area you can try – a budget hotel, an average priced hotel and a luxury hotel.

Econo Lodge
Number of Rooms47
Price Range ($)79-89
Special Packages"Packages for Choice Privileges members"
Additional ServicesFree breakfast Free Wi-Fi Laundry service
Hampton Inn St. Simons Island
Number of Rooms79
Price Range ($)180-195
Special Packages"Special rates"
Additional ServicesPool Fitness Free parking
The Westin Jekyll Island
Number of Rooms200
Price Range ($)248-429
Special Packages"Breakfast Bites and Bikes"
Additional ServicesDining Fitness Cafe

Casino Trips

For the best possible experience, you should visit a casino outside of Georgia. These can be found in the neighboring states of Alabama, North Carolina and Florida. There are specialist companies that organize casino excursions for Georgia residents, and you can find three of them below.

Casino Connections  Visit Website
  • Cherokee (NC), Murphy (NC)
  • N/A
Grand Blessing  Visit Website
  • Cherokee (NC), Murphy (NC)
  • N/A

Frequently Asked Questions

Are there casinos in Georgia?

The only Georgia casino is the Emerald Princess, a cruise ship casino that departs from Brunswick.

Are drugs allowed in Georgia casinos?

Drugs are not permitted aboard the Emerald Princess.

Is it possible to bring your children to the casinos in Georgia?

Anyone boarding the Emerald Princess must show valid ID to prove that they’re at least 21 years of age.

Do Georgia casinos allow guns?

No guns are permitted aboard the Emerald Princess.

Am I allowed to bring pets to any casino in Georgia?

No animals, other than assistance animals, are allowed on the Emerald Princess.

Where can I get help regarding gambling addiction?

Those in Georgia concerned about gambling addiction should contact the Georgia Council on Problem Gambling by calling 1-800-522-4700.

About Georgia

State Image
Capital Atlanta 
Largest Cities Augusta, Columbus, Macon 
Size 59425.15 sq ft 
Population 10,617,423 (2019) 
Time Zone Eastern: UTC -5/-4 
Abbreviation GA, Ga.