Georgia Gaming Legalization Debate Starting Up Again, After Several Unproductive Years

The Georgia House Study Committee on Gaming held its first meeting Monday, as the Peach State again is debating the idea of legalizing wagering beyond lottery.

Georgia is one of four states that does not have any sort of legal gaming beyond lottery. A late push to have a constitutional amendment added to the ballot to legalize sports betting in March failed to gain any traction in the lower chamber.

Rep. Marcus Wiedower, who sponsored the resolution and bill tied to the constitutional amendment effort, is chair of the committee. The seven-person group includes four chairs of other state committees: Matt Hatchett (Appropriations), Alan Powell (Regulated Industries), Ron Stephens (Economic Development & Tourism), and Chuck Martin (Higher Education). Also on the committee is Rep. Al Williams, president-elect of the National Council of Legislators from Gaming States (NCLGS).

The initial meeting was largely informal, with a history lesson on how the lottery came to be in Georgia before testimony from proponents and opponents of legalizing sports betting, casino gambling, and horse racing in the state.

It really has been a long debate

Reflecting the informal nature of the meeting, there were plenty of jokes about how long Georgia lawmakers have debated legalizing gambling. Stephens, who has gray hair, quipped, “We’ve been talking about this issue since my hair was black.” Martin followed by saying, “Chairman Stephens has to bring up hair. And I say he’s been talking about this since I had some.”

Rep. Stacey Evans then got in on the act, saying, “I served for seven years, left a little bit, and came back. We were talking about this when I left. We were talking about it when I came back.

“We’re still talking about it. And hopefully, we’ll get some resolution and I’m glad to be part of the conversation.”

Only the names have changed

Though not purely repetitive in nature throughout the years of debate, much of the arguments revolving around legalizing gambling in Georgia revolve around two points: proponents who think it can bring needed tax revenue and jobs to the state, and opponents who point out the societal problems that come with legalization, sometimes in a context couched in morality.

Ed Clark, president of EchoPark Speedway — formerly known as Atlanta Motor Speedway — is a staunch backer of legalization. Clark said the track has long had plans to expand in partnership with a gaming operator to create a “fully integrated, high-end quality resort, [with] a hotel, casino, convention space, dining facilities from high-end to causal, retail entertainment, and amusement activities.”

Clark projected expansion could potentially generate up to 3,000 construction jobs, and another 2,500 to 3,000 jobs with the expanded amenities. He also mentioned there is overwhelming support for expansion at the local level since approximately 70% of Henry County residents commute out of county for work.

Michael Griffin, who is the Georgia Baptist Public Affairs Representative and in-state lobbyist, provided committee members with statistics from studies published by Stop Predatory Gambling and the ABCs of Gambling while noting that “gambling expansion will decrease spending on necessities.”

“And typically where gambling increases, crime goes up, bankruptcies go up, addiction goes up,” Griffin added. “And we talk about dealing with casinos, sex trafficking has a tendency to go up in that area.”

Griffin cited New Testament scripture from Romans in his closing remarks and added that “government sanctioned gambling … encourages that which is evil and perverts the purpose for which God intended government.

“This is precisely what predatory gambling is. It is state-sponsored gambling that is based on the pretext that we’re allowing something evil, but it’s being sanctified because it’s supposedly being done for raising tax revenue.”