Georgia gambling supporters hope for 2019 legislation

Supporters of pari-mutuel and casino gambling in the Peach State are pushing to include a legislation during next year’s General Assembly session.

US.- The Georgia Horse Racing Coalition released on Wednesday a study that shows an integrated project of a racetrack and a casino in suburban Atlanta with a 300-room hotel, as well as entertainment centre and lounge venues. The facility could generate up to US$1.2 billion a year.

Georgia Representative, Brett Harrell, R-Snellville, said that he’s planning to present the proposal to the House Rural Development Council after the current legislative session ends next week and work along with state Senator Brandon Beach, R-Alpharetta, to introduce a legislation during the 2019 legislative session that would permit three venues in different parts of Georgia.

“A horse racing facility would create thousands of jobs, deliver tens of millions in new state and local tax dollars and bring new revenues and business development to rural Georgia through its equine industry,” Harrell said. “Georgia is one of only six states that have no gaming outside of its lottery, and I believe horse racing would bring together different strengths our state has in tourism and agriculture,” he added.

Despite the efforts, this isn’t the first time that supporters have tried to legalise casino gambling in the state. A previous plan even included measures to increase tourism and raise additional revenue for the state’s scholarship program. However, the legislation died because of the opposition from the Governor Nathan Deal and General Assembly members.

The report carried out by The Lewis Group established that a racetrack-casino with an investment of US$525 million would create more than 4,000 construction jobs and approximately 2,300 permanent jobs. It would also generate US$210 million in state and local taxes during its first year of operations. “This report gives lawmakers a clear vision of what a horse racing facility would contribute to Georgia,” Beach said. “We’ll work to pass legislation that enables a horse racing track in Georgia that is one of the nicest in the world.”