The 2017 State of the State poll, conducted by the Department of Government and Sociology at Georgia College and State University, indicated 58.2 percent of 494 randomly selected adults across the state support casino gambling. Support was highest in central Georgia and lowest in the northern part of the state. Last year, 51.3 percent of those polled approved of casino gambling.
Supporters said two casinos in different parts of the state could generate $600 million in revenue, with a portion going to support the HOPE scholarship program, currently wholly funded by the Georgia Lottery.
Allowing casino gambling in Georgia has been debated for several years and observers expect the subject to come up in the next legislative session. In the last session, state Senator Brandon Beach introduced SB 79, to legalize casino gambling and build two “destination resorts.” One was designated to be built in the metro Atlanta area at a cost of at least $2 billion. Las Vegas-based MGM Resorts International had scouted locations and expressed interest in the project. The second casino, possibly located in Savannah, had a price tag of $450 million.
Following early support, the bill was rejected in the Senate Regulated Industries Committee in February. Beach said he would continue to push for casino gambling in 2018.
Last month, four Republican gubernatorial candidates said that they would all oppose any form of casino gambling expansion in the state if they were elected next November. In addition, in August, members of the state’s GOP state committee approved a resolution stating legalizing casino gaming would nurture “predatory activities” and would negatively impact the lives of Georgia residents.
