The legalization of casinos the capital of Atlanta has been up in the table for many years, until the point that it has reached the level as a topic in the Georgia General Assembly (over years now). But unfortunately, it has never achieved de support necessary to get into the next step.
Nowadays, Senate Bill 79 would have authorized the construction of two “destination resorts” in two different locations in the state. The first such resort would have had to be built in Atlanta and to have cost at least $2 billion.
The location for the other property was not specified in the legislative piece, but it would have cost $450 million to construct, if the bill had come into effect as a law.
Looking the background of this bill, we must get back to track on how the efforts keep being encourage by outsiders, so we face ourselves with Las Vegas giant MGM Resorts International, according to Politically Georgia (local newspaper) the named company has donated big coffers to a number of local politicians and political organizations, including two candidates for the Democratic Party nomination for governor. (READ SO: MGM RESORTS WILL OPEN SOON AN ESPORTS ARENA)
The casino operator has contributed the amount of $22,000 to former Rep. Stacey Evans and of $14,000 to former House Minority Leader Stacey Abrams, $1,000 to House Speaker David Ralston and another $1,000 to the state’s Republican Senatorial Committee, $9,000 to the Georgia Democratic Party, and $10,000 to the Georgia House GOP Trust.
Both Democratic candidates (Evans & Abrams) have previously pointed out that they would support the legalization of casinos in the state if new revenue is generated for Georgia’s HOPE scholarship. It is believed that if lawmakers manage to convince their colleagues that casino venues could generate significant revenue for the state’s HOPE scholarship program, this may increase the effort’s chances to succeed. (READ SO: GEORGIA: SOCIAL POSITIONS STAY AT THE FRONT OF THE STRUGGLE)
