In Georgia, Atlanta-based City Commercial Real Estate founder Rick Lackey, developer of the Battery, home of the Atlanta Braves’ Truist Park, recently released renderings of three proposed casino resorts in the state. Lackey said situating the venues on Georgia’s north-south interstates would attract tourists. “There are people who drive through Georgia on I-75, I-85 or I-95 on their way to Florida. At some point, they’re going to stop and get gas, a Chick-fil-A sandwich and go to the bathroom. We don’t have anywhere for them to stop and stay,” Lackey said.
Lackey’s proposed casino resorts would be built on the Chattahoochee River in Columbus, along Interstate 85 in Lavonia near the South Carolina line and along I-95 in Midway south of Savannah. Along with gaming, the facilities would offer luxury hotels, entertainment venues and retail shopping.
State Rep. Ron Stephens is the chief sponsor of House Resolution 30 which could make Lackey’s vision a reality. It calls for a statewide referendum allowing voters to authorize a “limited number” of casino resorts. If the measure gains two-thirds approval in the state House and Senate, the issue would appear on the statewide ballot in November 2022.
Governor Brian Kemp has stated he’s “not a big fan” of legalizing gambling in Georgia, and could veto any standalone bill the General Assembly may pass. However, constitutional amendments do not need the governor’s signature and are presented directly to the voters. Polls indicate Georgia voters strongly support legalized gambling. “They’re ready to go,” Stephens said. State Rep. Calvin Smyre, a co-sponsor of Stephens’ bill, said, “For too long, we have allowed this to linger. It’s time to fish or cut bait.”
Lackey said he believes the time has come for casino gambling legislation to pass. He noted casinos could provide tens of thousands of temporary and permanent jobs and generate hundreds of millions of dollars in new investment, giving a boost to the state economy that’s been impacted by Covid-19. “In the past, Georgia had very low unemployment and very high tax revenues. Now, we don’t. We have a need for jobs and increasing tax revenues,” Lackey said.
Stephens said another reason to support his legislation is that it would direct a portion of proceeds to the HOPE Scholarship and other education-related programs. He pointed out although the Georgia Lottery Corp. recently posted record profits for the last six months of 2020, sales of lottery tickets are not keeping up with the demand for scholarships; in fact, the program is facing a $300 million deficit, Stephens said.
Stephens pointed out if lawmakers pass his legislation and voters statewide approve it, a local referendum still would have to be held before a casino could open in a community. “Citizens are going to have to ask for it before it’s even considered,” Stephens said.
City councils in Lavonia, Columbus and Midway already have endorsed casino resorts in their locales. In Lavonia, Lackey’s company has a 500-acre site along Lake Hartwell under a lease agreement. About 8.6 million people live within a 2wo-hour drive, and 37.6 million within a 5-hour drive. “It would be a perfect place,” said state Rep. Alan Powell, another cosponsor of House Resolution 30.
Powell said he wants the casino measure to be combined with legalizing sports betting and parimutuel betting. Currently a sports betting bill in the House is a statute, not a constitutional amendment. “Gambling’s gambling, whether it’s sports betting, destination casinos or horse racing,” Powell said.
