As Georgia inches towards expanded gambling, Casino leaders renew a push to open resorts and betting destinations in different areas across the state.
On Thursday, the Georgia Senate passed SB 386 which would create up to 16 sports betting licenses to operators like professional sports teams. The Senate added an amendment that would require voters to approve a constitutional amendment in November.
Any major gambling changes would require an amendment to the Georgia state constitution. Senate Resolution 538, introduced in the 2024 session proposes an amendment that would allow for sports betting and casinos in the state.
A poll from the University of Georgia’s School of Public and International Affairs Survey Research Center showed that 59.7 percent of people surveyed support casino gambling in Georgia. A survey of 800 Georgia voters by Public Opinion Strategies found 85 percent of voters were in favor of allowing voters to decide on a casino amendment.
With renewed support and government interest in bringing casinos to Georgia, representatives from Bally’s and Hard Rock International, two major Casino corporations, slot machine manufacturer Cardinal Express, consulting firms and community leaders met Feb. 1 to talk about what it would look like to make the state and possibly Atlanta a gambling destination.
The meeting centered around benefits and drawbacks of bringing casinos to the state, specifically Atlanta. Stan Jones, a government relations partner at law firm Nelson Mullins said the goal was to get the corporation involved with local people, including representatives from the Fox Theatre, Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau and Central Atlanta Progress.
Jones stressed that the focus is on economic development for Georgia on the whole.
“This is not just about Atlanta, if it were about Atlanta it probably wouldn’t pass,” Jones.
Marcus Glover, the Chief Financial Officer at Bally’s Corporation said he has operated several casinos, with some in the “downtown urban core” and others further from downtown or in the suburbs.
Community members raised concerns about centering a major casino project in downtown Atlanta, though, particularly amidst multimillion dollar investments in revitalizing the district.
A representative from Nelson Mullins said Atlanta “needs a big attraction” for economic development.
Central Atlanta Progress president AJ Robinson disagreed, saying the state is “awash in money.”
“From Atlanta, particularly downtown Atlanta, we have an incredibly robust hospitality community,” Robinson said.
He pointed out that adding another hospitality industry would bring competition for workers. Allan Vella, CEO of the Fox Theatre added that the competition could harm the theater industry, too.
Casinos use a loss leader technique, which sells things below cost to attract customers. Vella said that technique is a “major problem for the arts and entertainment community.”
He said the loss leader approach can pay the artist a greater chunk of sales than a theater like the Fox, which “then knocks out all the other performing arts centers, theaters, small arenas and they can’t compete.”
Casino leaders looked at other state gambling models to compare the economic success, like Maryland. The state takes in nearly $1.6 billion from gaming. Chunks of that income go to different funds: $9.7 million from sports wagering went to education efforts, and the six casinos are the biggest moneymaker for the state contributing more than $848 million in the 2022-2023 fiscal year.
The advocates said that voters ultimately want additional Georgia gambling tax revenue to go towards Kindergarten through 12th grade education projects, followed by increased funding to keep hospitals from closing.
Atlanta isn’t the only area casino leaders are looking at — Savannah, Columbus and suburbs outside the city were all mentioned at the meeting.
“Whether people are talking about downtown Atlanta or someplace else, one thing everybody says is its something inevitable we gotta figure out how to address.
It’s a very good thought to get in casino in Atlanta will increase the business
Yes in Locust Grove Ga or McDonough Ga. We need a casino bad that way. Georgia wnt have to travel out of state
Casinos are a cancer. Hundreds, thousands, 10’s of thousands of retirees dumping money on slot machines. But lets just assume the patrons have “extra” cash (most don’t) to blow and they “may” only lose $10k-$20k a year in the slots but its over the last 10 years ($100k-$200k) of their life which means their next generation is losing a decent leg up. Whether that money could go for college for their grandkids, or a downpayment for a house for their kids or maybe just paying down debt that frees up time for their heirs to breath. A casino sucks generational wealth and destroys families and communities, and for what so (INSERT FAKE POLITICIANS’ PROMISE HERE). What ever they tell you is the benefit is a lie. It is literally a deal with the Devil. The benefits are for a very select few. Just look at were they have put them. Sure they are fancy and grand when they are built but 10 year after they are built, would you want to live near them. Don’t support the short sided, paid off advocates for casinos. Respect the opponents that truly care about the long term health of our communities. And before some one says, oh I would love to live near Cherokee in the mountains. That casino has +/-2,000 people living on the Rez. That only proves the point that a casino is great for a few but detrimental to the vast amount of visitors that use the casino drug.
Get out of here with that nonsense! There are a lot of other vices that retirees spend their money on. Alcohol, tobacco, traveling, etc. Casinos are a great money maker. I do not think casinos should be in Atlanta or any other major city though. Put a strip of them out in the rural areas in or near the mountains. Atlanta traffic is bad enough and so poorly designed, which is the reason traffic is so bad.
Oh sure “Put them out in the rural areas in or near the mountains, but not near you”…. So it ruins those people’s communities where they do things right about traffic, crime, drugs, prostitution and development etc. But on a serious note there won’t be a “strip”. That is not for you little people to decide. It has already been decided for you that if passed…..There will be five (5) casino operators with six (6) licenses throughout Georgia. #1 will be in North Georgia for the “Wealthy” (Think MGM) The Cherokee know the plan set up by the Casinos, thats why they built a second casino in Valley River even though they had a monopoly in Cherokee, NC because they have to make as much as they can before one is built in N. Georgia. #2 Will be built in Coastal Georgia near Savannah to capture the fastest growing blue collar market in USA and beach visitors (Think Harrah’s) #3 Will be built near the tristate area of Fla/AL/GA to pull business from the panhandle of Florida’s rich retirees (Think Bally’s). #4 and #5 will be in Downtown Atlanta. One will be larger and most premium casino in Georgia (Think Venitian) It will be for the convention business and have the most amenities and rooms. the second Atlanta one will be for the poorer crowd to waste their meager sums in mass in slot machines so they wont attempt to go to the Premium one (Think Hard Rock). The casino operator that does the urban slot farm for the poor will also get the rights to the #6 license for the best deal of all….. the slots in the World’s busiest airport. Hard Rock already built a hotel in anticipation of a casino downtown to make the case they should get the slot farm and airport since they were the first mover.
Dont put them in North Atlanta the weather is always worse up there. Near the race track, Mcdonough, Lovejoy, Six flags areas would be better and definetly one in the ATL.
Your argument has merit, but consider this. Gamblers are gonna gamble. What you don’t mention, or care to, is that people already board planes and buses to gaming facilities outside of Georgia, daily. Your “save people from themselves” argument is well taken, but millions of dollars still leave the state, daily!
Boarding planes or buses to make a trip is an event. It requires planning and additional financial resources. This is a barrier (a low one) that at least prevents the most vulnerable gamblers from wasting what little they have when they can just pop in on their way home from work. Or the retirees that can swing in every morning and afternoon. Go to a casino at 10am, the vastttttt majority are only their because its next to their house and they aren’t the most financially well off.
If you don’t want to enjoy your life doing certain things don’t do them, I’m not saving my money that I worked my whole life for, for my kids inheritance. I expect them to work and make their own nest eggs, I’m not rich and intend to enjoy what I worked my entire life for, if I want to gamble that shouldn’t bother you! When you enjoy yourself by eating out, going to the movies or traveling more power to you. GAMBLING WOULD BE GREAT FOR GEORGIA.
You are right, you do you boo. Your money, your bad choice. But the thin vail argument for casinos are that they some how benefit the community, and the data shows the exact opposite. They bring exponential death spiral of a reverse Robin Hood situation coupled with more crime, poorer schools, home value depreciation or stagnation. In fact, they spur the closures of smaller businesses outside the casino such as shops, restaurants and theater.
The Six Flags Pkwy. district in Cobb County would be a great location for a casino. Just outside the perimeter of 285. Next to I-20. Close to the airport. The kids could go to Six Flags as the adults enjoy the casinos.
I have been waiting for a casino to come to
Ga. for over twenty years now, don’t want to wait twenty MORE !!!
People travel to Tampa Alabama Cherokee to spend their money and ga is losing a lot of money if we have some in ga people will go there if you worry about our children send them your money
Amen, go to North Carolina and see how many georgia plates are there giving money to that state. how stupid
Your “Amen” argument doesn’t hold water. First of all, its called interstate trade. Let the weak willed of those states sacrifice their communities for a few dollars and corrupting influence of casinos so the state of Georgia can be safer, healthier and ultimately wealthier. Secondly, lets try a thought experiment…. Lets say you build one in North Georgia. Do you think all the tags in that N.Ga parking lot will say Tennessee, N. carolina or Alabama for very long once the newness wears off. No, the customers for that casino will be local and all the plates will have a pretty GA peach on them and the argument that it will bring in outside money will be mute because every State will have a casino or one closer.
The push for casino legalization in Georgia reflects a combination of legislative interest, business opportunities, and public support.
Hollow Statement, 2 of the 3s opinions don’t matter. The legislative interest is the only one that matters. And if a politician comes out in support of casinos its because they are bought and paid for.
The push for legalized casinos in Georgia is gaining traction, driven by economic incentives, business interest, and a changing legislative landscape.
Propaganda talking points, and everybody reading (should) knows it.
1. Econ Incentives? Casinos are vacuums of local wealth that create decay.
2. Business Interest? Casinos are 100% designed from inception to keep people inside their walls and not circulating in the “community”. With the exception of pimps, the Union bosses or overflow hotels, Who would forsake their community and support it. What specific business interest do you think want a casino outside of the three I named?
3. Changing legislative landscape? What does that even mean? If you mean Dems controlling the Governor mansion or heaven forbid, a majority of state legislators you are right. The Dem party is all for destroying a community so long as it destroyed for their warped version of “greater good” AKA lines their personal pockets. As soon as a Dem Governor sits in the chair Casinos will try to pour into the State. Also, 2nd largest Republican donor, Casino (Venitian, Palazzo) owner Sheldon Adelson has started attempting to sway rural GA GOP with donations to incredibly safe seats. I know 2 of them. Both will vote no despite Adelson’s, Harrah’s and MGM’s advances. The Dems on the other hand can’t see the forest for the trees and will drink whatever Koolaid they are told to drink, Constituents be damned.
GA is losing money by not having casinos!
People drive all the way to Biloxi, MS and boy o boy it’s amazing how many GA tags are there!
Wake up Ga and consider middle GA!
I hope Georgia gets a casino because I’m tired of driving to Alabama to play the slot machines two hours and thirty minutes the best place to have one is at the Atlanta Motor Speedway and waiting for the ok.
People drive all the way to Biloxi, MS and boy a2s2d o boy it’s amazing how many GA tags are there!
Wake up Ga and consider middle GA!