The Georgia House Special Committee on Economic Growth is conducting a statewide listening tour to gather public input on gambling. The topic at the recent Columbus session included upcoming legislation to allow sports betting, horseracing and casinos in Georgia.
Local businessman Bob Wright said if lawmakers pass casino legislation and voters approve it, he plans to develop a $200 million, upscale destination casino resort on the Chattahoochee River in south Columbus. He made the same proposal in 2016, but the bill allowing the development did not pass the legislature.
Wright said south Columbus is an area that “needs a lot of help” in terms of housing and jobs. “It really needs an economic catalyst to really turn that part of our city around. We think the economic impact of a destination resort will have a tremendous effect on Columbus and our city as well as contribute to the HOPE scholarship and other needs,” he said.
The 15-member committee is led by co-chairmen House Speaker David Ralston and state Reps. Alan Powell, Brett Harrell and Ron Stephens. Powell said he’d like to see gaming revenue directed to the state’s healthcare budget. He noted horseracing alone could produce an additional $1 billion for Georgia’s economy.
Expanding gambling would require a two-thirds majority in both houses; the constitutional amendment would then have to be approved by Georgia voters. Other legislation would spell out the counties in which casinos could be located–which possibly could prevent a casino in Columbus. A second referendum approving a casino would be held in those counties. Earlier this year, the Columbus city council voted unanimously in support of legislation that would allow a casino in the city.
District 7 Councilor Mimi Woodson, representing the district where Wright’s proposed casino would be located, said it would be a “game-changer.” She added, “No doubt this would create jobs and improve the quality of life for many people in District 7, throughout the city of Columbus and this region. This is the perfect district for this proposed economic development.”
Toyia Tucker, a candidate for Columbus City Council, stated, “We have to get out of just the gambling aspect, but look at the destination resort and what all it brings as far as concerts and also jobs. And we need jobs in this community.”
