In Georgia, gambling proponents announced their focus will be on House Bill 677, a proposed constitutional amendment to allow casino gambling in the state. “Enabling” legislation regarding rules and regulations would be dealt with later. The bill would authorize six casinos: one each in Columbus, Macon, Savannah and South Georgia and two in the Atlanta area. A license for Atlanta would cost billion and 0 million for each of the others.
Observers see the move as a way to leave Governor Nathan Deal out of the debate. Last year deal said he would oppose casinos unless they agreed to a tax rate of 24-35 percent of gross revenue.
Also, state Senator Vincent Fort recently filed Senate Bill 266 calling for pro-casino lobbyists to “declare every red cent” spent attempting to influence legislators to approve casino gambling. The bill includes political donations as well as expenses including sponsoring community dinners, paying for band uniforms and more. “They’re not doing it just out of the goodness of their hearts,” Fort said.
Meanwhile, if Georgia voters approve parimutuel wagering, the Georgia Horse Racing Coalition, a group of business and civic leaders, hopes to “reinvent horse racing” with the construction of a mixed-use racetrack development. No site has been selected yet.
Coalition President Dean Reeves, owner of 2013 Breeder’s Cup Classic winner Mucho Macho Man, said the group envisions “a mixed-use development and park to create the ultimate fan experience at no expense to taxpayers. If horse racing is approved by voters, Georgia would become the home of a state-of-the-art track that is just as innovative as the new facilities for the Falcons and Braves.”
Coalition Vice-President Jack Damico, managing partner of the Posse Racing Stable, added, “Our hope is that Georgia voters understand that no taxpayer dollars will be needed to build a track and more than 5,000 jobs will be created through this development, and they will urge their legislators to support our bill to bring horse racing to Georgia.”
The facility would be designed by Kansas City-based Populous, which has designed more than 2000 projects worth $30 billion, including horse racetracks on five continents as well as the Braves’ new Sun Trust Park in Atlanta, Ascot Racecourse in the UK, the Hong Kong Jockey Club and Yankee Stadium. Reeves said, “What makes this design so unique is that on race days, the Georgia facility is a fully activated, high-tech experience connecting fans and racing like no other racetrack in the world, but on non-race days the park is a destination for concerts, festivals, dining, shopping, public events and other activities.”
