A study completed last year by PFK Consulting found a casino could create nearly 11,000 jobs and fill tax coffers with about $135 million annually.
“Everybody knows the government needs the money,” said Atlanta Councilwoman Anne Fauver.
Casino backers say that financial worries in the state and city make this time the right moment to expand gambling . Democratic state lawmaker, Roger Bruce of Atlanta, told the city’s elected officials he’s planning to introduce legislation that could open the door to casinos in Georgia. “I think the time is right for ideas, and this is an idea,” Bruce said.
Bruce said his bill would let counties, cities and towns determine whether they want a casino in their jurisdiction through a local referendum.
Tax proceeds from the casinos would be divided between the local jurisdiction and the state. Money must be used for roads and other infrastructure projects, along with hospital trauma centers.
House Speaker Pro-Tem Mark Burkhalter (R-Johns Creek) said voters would need to approve a constitutional amendment to allow gambling .
For now, most lawmakers in the Republican majority don’t support the idea, and a proposed constitutional amendment would have to win the approval of the Georgia General Assembly.
“There is maybe a handful in our Republican caucus who have entertained pari-mutuel gambling through horse racing and so forth,” Burkhalter said.
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Gov. Sonny Perdue asked state agencies to keep on eye on spending to manage a $1.6 billion budget shortfall.
City Council leaders have championed the idea of a casino in Atlanta for about 20 years, believing it would bring jackpot-size money to Georgia that could be used for public education and police.
Bruce believes a legitimate case can be made for casinos when you consider the economic impact. He contends the state’s efforts to raise revenues, primarily through property and sales taxes, aren’t working.
“What we’ve been doing has put us in a $2 billion deficit,” he said.
Ron Fennel, governmental affairs director for the Georgia Hotel & Lodging Association, said his industry would put down the welcome mat for people if a casino ever came to Atlanta.
“We’ll invite them to come, spend their money, tell their friends and tell them to come back again.”
Some forms of Internet gambling are supported by Georgia lawmakers. U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.), who has a run-off election on Dec. 2, supports an exemption from federal gambling law that would allow online poker games to continue unfettered in his state and across America. Chambliss said that he supports a "skill game exemption" for online poker.
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