In February, Georgia State Senator Brandon Beach introduced a bill to approve sports betting without amending the state constitution. The bill fell a vote short of the two-thirds required.
The almost successful legislation prompted Beach to plan another run when the next legislative session begins in early January, Beach plans to go beyond sports betting this time. His package also includes three casino resorts, one or two race tracks and online sports betting, he told the Joint Committees of Economic Development & Tourism.
Georgia Governor Brian Kemp acknowledged his willingness to sign a sports betting law.
Georgia, to those unaware, is one of nine states to offer lottery games online. It was the first state to do so. iLottery sales went from $1 million in 2015 to $310 million in 2022.
Anything passing in November, 2024 would require amending the state constitution. It’s a presidential year when turnout is high, which can only help the situation.
If approved, the Georgia Legislature would be tasked with creating a gaming commission which in turn would develop rules and regulations.
Beach sees the proposal generating $900 million a year in taxes for the state.
While he’s open to suggestions beyond his talking points, Beach penciled in devoting half the income to infrastructure improvements; 20 percent for mental health including problem gambling; 20 percent to rural health care; and 10 percent to the state’s historically black colleges and universities. But he acknowledges these areas can change, he told Bonus.com.
He is not averse to distribution of tax revenue to seek major sporting events like the Super Bowl. Still the three casinos and the racetrack will be the movers for the state economy in large part from the thousands of jobs they create.
He used Wynn’s Encore Boston Harbor as his vision for a destination resort, including nightlife, shopping, lodging and more. Beach said that the Boston resort now generates 60 percent of its revenue from non-gambling sources.
