The debate over legalizing gambling has been reignited by Georgia’s newly established House Study Committee on Gaming. Future hearings will discuss online sports betting and horse racing, while a proposed casino resort near EchoPark Speedway promises thousands of jobs. Support from voters is still strong.
The long-running discussion among Georgia lawmakers over legalizing gambling in the state was picked up again Monday.
The newly established House Study Committee on Gaming in the State of Georgia began a series of hearings that will continue through the autumn. “We’ve been talking about this issue since my hair was black,” said Rep. Ron Stephens, R-Savannah, a distinctly grey state representative.
Online sports betting and pari-mutuel horse racing betting will be discussed at future sessions, but casino gambling was the main topic of Monday’s hearing in the Oconee County Administrative Building in Watkinsville.
During the event, Ed Clark, the president of EchoPark Speedway, which was once known as Atlanta Motor Speedway, reaffirmed the facility’s intention to construct a “destination” casino resort next to the Hampton racetrack.
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Up to 3,000 construction employment and an additional 2,500 to 3,000 permanent full-time and part-time jobs for Henry County residents—70% of whom presently work outside the county—would be created by the project, he claimed.
“This is an opportunity for them to work closer to home and make a comparable salary,” he stated.
Previous years’ General Assembly legislation called for the construction of six destination casino resorts throughout the state, which would have a $2 billion annual economic impact.
In the Georgia Republican Party’s straw poll from the previous year’s GOP primary, Clark referenced the overwhelming popular support for a statewide referendum on legalizing gambling.
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