State lawmakers looking at ways to preserve the HOPE Scholarship wrapped up two days of hearings with expert testimony from both the gaming and horse racing industries.

Among legislation they are considering is a constitutional amendment that would allow six licensed casinos around the state with two in metro Atlanta.  Millions of dollars would be charged in upfront licensing fees and a 12 percent tax on gaming revenue would be paid to the state to help fund the HOPE and Georgia Pre-k.

Jim Murren, Chairman and CEO of Las Vegas-based MGM Resorts International, told members of the House and Senate study committees that the Atlanta market could easily support a $1 billion casino resort.

He says Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport and Atlanta’s many tourist attractions makes it an ideal location.

“The infrastructure you have in Atlanta is unique to any place I’ve seen in the United States from a standpoint of developing a robust regional resort,” Murren tells WSB’s Sandra Parrish.

Without pinpointing a location, he envisions an integrated resort,  working with local businesses, to create a mixed-use type of development in downtown Atlanta.

“There’s no public financing, there’s no public incentives; these are private enterprises and we think we would generate a tremendous amount of jobs, good-paying careers with no burden to the taxpayer.”

Pari-mutuel betting is another revenue stream that could benefit the HOPE.

Dean Reeves, owner of Reaves Thoroughbred Racing and President of the Georgia Horse Racing Coalition, told lawmakers the industry could generate $25 million for education.

He envisions a track with “boutique meets” holding live racing events 20 days out of the year.

“We would have very strong, large purses; attract the finest horses here; have top-self racing; and we think that it would be packed-house events for every day of our racing.”

The study committees have until Dec. 1 to come up with recommendations to increase funding for HOPE.