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Lawmakers are looking into Georgia casinos. Chris Hopper reports.
Georgia lawmakers are considering casino-style gambling seen here in Atlantic City, New Jersey.(Photo: John Moore, Getty Images)
ATLANTA -- A new chapter begins in the fight to legalize Las Vegas casino-style gambling in Georgia.
The discussion will focus on a way to save the HOPE scholarship, a unique financial assistance program for Georgia college students.
Georgia Governor Nathan Deal has been vocal about his resistance to casino gambling.
“I am opposed to casino gambling I think it does not offer benefits that outweigh the negatives," he told 11Alive News earlier this summer.
Despite that opposition, a Georgia senate legislative committee will begin studying the issue. They've scheduled one meeting Monday, and another on Tuesday. Committee members will look at a measure that wants to use state taxes from casino gaming and wagering on horse racing as a way to supplement Georgia's HOPE scholarship and Pre-K programs. But, right now, casino gambling isn't legal in Georgia.
Casino giant MGM is interested in Atlanta, so are a few other gambling companies.
Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed told 11Alive News he's generally opposed to the idea, but he's listening.
“It would be fiscal malpractice not to meet with them," he said.
When the Georgia legislature starts its 2016 session, there's a bill waiting for them. The bill would legalize casino-style gambling. It's a bill Governor Deal is completely against, but said he might be willing to look the other way if majority rules.
“You don’t have to sign anything for it to become law," he said.
If a constitutional amendment passes with public support, Governor Deal could sit on it for 40 days, and it would officially become law.
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