A Georgia House panel recently stopped in the city of Valdosta to hold the first of several “listening sessions” regarding expanded gaming.
Supporters said casinos, sports betting or horseracing would create thousands of jobs and help rescue the struggling Georgia Lottery-funded HOPE scholarship program. The sessions are a response to Governor Brian Kemp’s call to lawmakers to cut state spending and find new revenue streams.
Allowing new forms of gambling would require Georgia voters to approve a constitutional amendment. But first two-thirds of both legislative chambers would have to approve an amendment.
State Rep. Brett Harrell, chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, is one of the three lawmakers on the gambling panel. At the Valdosta gathering, he explained, “This is to share info on the first series of hearings we had in Atlanta and, more importantly, we want to hear from you what your opinion is and what your needs may be for your community.”
He added, “Our intent is to ask the citizens, ‘Do you support inviting this industry to Georgia?’ If the answer is yes, ‘How do you want us to enable this industry to come to Georgia so you all get your piece of the pie?’”
The audience watched a 25-minute video recapping the Atlanta hearings plus heard presentations from local development and tourism officials outlining the benefits of a casino in Lowndes County. Valdosta Mayor John Gayle said he’s on the fence about gambling but appreciates the economic benefits of a casino close to I-75 and the Florida border.
“I’m not a proponent of gambling but I am a proponent of things that would benefit the state,” Gayle said.
He acknowledged it would be difficult to get a county referendum approved. And in reality, Atlanta or Savannah would be more likely to get a casino than Valdosta. He noted, “People may want to vote for it, but they don’t want the folks at their church to know they support gambling. And the churches will mount a case about the morality of gambling.”
State Rep. Al Williams added, “It’s amazing how folks get converted when the money starts to roll in.”
State Rep. Alan Powell, chairman of the House Regulated Industries committee, said the panel still is scheduling community visits. He said several more will be held before fore lawmakers return in January for the 2020 legislative session.
