If some lawmakers have their approach, voters in Georgia might have a chance subsequent 12 months to determine whether or not to welcome casinos, racetracks, and cell sports activities betting to the state.
Georgia Home lawmakers throw up paper on the conclusion of their 2023 legislative session on March 29, 2023. (Picture: AP)
State Sen. Brandon Seaside (R-Alpharetta) says he plans to introduce a invoice as quickly because the legislature convenes in January that may place a playing measure on the state poll subsequent 12 months. Seaside desires to carry three on line casino resorts, a pari-mutuel race observe, and cell sportsbooks to the Peach State.
If we have been in a position to do three vacation spot resorts and one racetrack and sports activities betting, you’re speaking about $900 million in income to the state,” Seaside stated at a Wednesday meeting of the legislature’s Joint Financial Growth and Tourism Committee, of which he’s the cochairman.
Seaside’s proposed laws would ask voters whether or not they need to amend the Georgia structure to authorize the brand new video games. He famous that sports activities betting and casinos are authorized in lots of neighboring states, costing Georgia tourism and financial growth alternatives.
Georgia Vacationers
Throughout a latest go to to the Harrah’s Cherokee On line casino Resort in North Carolina, about an hour’s drive from the state border, Seaside stated he observed that 85% of the automobiles within the parking zone had Georgia license plates.
We’re funding North Carolina’s schooling system with Georgia license plates up there gaming,” he stated. “So I feel it’s one thing we have now to let the voters determine.”
Seaside says his purpose is to see Atlanta ultimately host a luxurious on line casino resort, pointing to the Wynn Encore Boston Harbor for instance of what he hopes to see.
“I don’t need a Las Vegas Strip. However what I do need is a Wynn-type facility that may be a vacation spot,” Seaside stated. He anticipated a on line casino resort would come with an leisure venue, spa, eating places, and high-end retail manufacturers like Versace and Gucci.
Funding for Infrastructure, Training
The laws Seaside mentioned Wednesday was circulated to committee members in draft kind. However he stated it could be tweaked earlier than being launched.
The laws would direct proceeds from casinos, racing, and sports activities betting to a number of priorities, together with infrastructure growth, well being care, and schooling, Seaside stated on the assembly.
Half of the proceeds would stream right into a Freight and Logistics Fund, aimed toward bettering roads, bridges, and rail entry in key precedence areas, comparable to across the Port of Savannah.
The opposite half can be break up between well being care and schooling, with 20% going to a rural well being care fund, 20% going to handle playing dependancy and psychological well being, and 10% going to a fund devoted to the state’s Traditionally Black Faculties and Universities.
Seaside stated he may embrace language within the laws that may use among the playing proceeds to ascertain a fund designed to draw marquee occasions, such because the Tremendous Bowl or Closing 4, to Georgia. He stated Texas has a $100 million state fund to draw such occasions, whereas organizers have needed to privately fundraise in earlier efforts to carry massive occasions to Georgia.
If voters approve the proposed constitutional modification, the legislature can be directed to cross laws to ascertain a brand new gaming fee that may regulate the exercise.
Subsequent Steps
The Georgia legislature is at present assembly in a particular session convened by Gov. Brian Kemp (R) to contemplate new electoral maps and a handful of different slender points, so Seaside can’t introduce his invoice till the subsequent common session convenes on January 8.
Georgia is seen as probably the greatest hopes for an enlargement of sports activities betting in 2024 after comparable efforts stalled in earlier periods.
Nonetheless, it stays to be seen whether or not casinos and pari-mutuels may even come alongside for the experience. Sports activities betting could also be extra prone to see success within the state, and it could not require a brand new constitutional modification.
