Not legal yet
| UFC betting status | Not legal yet |
|---|---|
| Time zone | Eastern Time |
| State tax on winnings | Counts as state taxable income |
Is UFC Betting Legal in Georgia?
Bills to allow mobile betting through the Georgia Lottery, sometimes paired with a constitutional amendment, have been debated almost every session. A proposal reached the House floor in 2026 before stalling. Until a law passes and voters approve any amendment, licensed sportsbooks can’t operate here.
How to Bet on UFC in Georgia
Your legal options:
- Bet from a neighboring legal state. Tennessee (online statewide), North Carolina (online) and Florida (Hard Rock Bet) all border Georgia.
- Open your account at home, bet across the line. Licensed apps let you register anywhere; geolocation only needs you inside the legal state when you place the bet.
- Follow the law in Georgia. Watch for new bills; we update this page when anything changes.
What Time Does UFC Start in Georgia?
Most UFC cards are scheduled on US Eastern Time. Here’s what a standard card looks like in Georgia (Eastern Time). Our automatic event posts list exact times for every card during fight week.
| Numbered UFC event (US-based) | Georgia (winter) | Georgia (summer) |
|---|---|---|
| Early prelims | Sat 5:00 PM | Sat 5:00 PM |
| Prelims | Sat 7:00 PM | Sat 7:00 PM |
| Main card | Sat 9:00 PM | Sat 9:00 PM |
UFC in Georgia
Atlanta’s State Farm Arena has hosted UFC pay-per-views, and the city has a growing MMA gym scene.
Taxes on UFC Betting Winnings in Georgia
All gambling winnings are taxable federal income. Licensed sportsbooks send a W-2G for larger wins and report them to the IRS. Georgia also treats winnings as taxable income, so report them on your state return. Keep your betting history. Recent federal changes affect how much of your losses you can deduct, so check with a tax professional if you bet regularly.
UFC Bet Types to Start With
- Moneyline: pick the winner. The simplest bet and the best place to start.
- Method of victory: KO/TKO, submission or decision. Higher payouts, harder to hit.
- Total rounds (over/under): will the fight go past 1.5 or 2.5 rounds?
- Goes the distance: yes/no on a decision.
- Parlays: combine fights for a bigger payout; every leg must win.
New to it? Read our UFC betting beginner’s guide and all state and country guides.
UFC Fight Week in Georgia: A Bettor’s Timeline
- Early in fight week: odds settle. There’s no legal sportsbook in Georgia, but following the line still tells you who the market favors. If you plan to bet in Tennessee or North Carolina or Florida, set up your account early.
- Thursday–Friday: press conferences and weigh-ins. Official weigh-ins are usually Friday morning US time. Missed weight, injuries and late replacements move lines more than anything else.
- Saturday: fight night. For a numbered UFC event in the US, early prelims start around Saturday 5:00 PM, prelims around Saturday 7:00 PM and the main card around Saturday 9:00 PM Eastern Time. The main event walkout usually comes two to three hours after the main card starts.
- After the fights: settlement. Results, records and stats update on our fighter profiles the next day.
Common Mistakes to Avoid in Georgia
- Using offshore sites. They aren’t licensed in any US state, so there’s no regulator to help if they don’t pay.
- Betting before you’ve crossed the line. In Tennessee, North Carolina, Florida, licensed apps only accept bets once you are physically inside that state.
- Ignoring age rules next door. Most legal states require you to be 21+ (a few allow 18).
- Assuming the law won’t change. Bills come up regularly; we update this page when Georgia’s status changes.
