Georgia Lawmakers Take Gambling Proposals on the Road
A campaign to increase awareness of the possibility of gambling in the state of Georgia has gone on the road this week. Lawmakers who are considering whether gambling should be legalised will be travelling around the state to get views and input from the public.
The move comes as Georgia considers whether it should join the growing ranks of US states who have opted to legalise gambling following the ruling by the Supreme Court. So far Georgia has resisted but there is growing pressure for the matter to receive serious parliamentary time.
Education for the public
Gambling remains an emotive subject for many and there has been suggestions that the electorate could vote down any change without properly understanding what’s involved. In Georgia any constitutional change, such as the legalisation of gambling, would need to be approved by the chamber before going to a referendum.
Parliamentarians who are considering whether gambling could be beneficial for Georgia are concerned that the full facts are not reaching the public. The roadshow is therefore designed to improve knowledge and educate voters about exactly what legalisation of gambling would mean.
As well as helping to further understanding of the issue with the public, lawmakers also want to gather ideas about how gambling could be implemented in a responsible way.
Possible implementation in Georgia
Although many lawmakers are personally opposed to gambling, they believe that the introduction of legal betting could present unparalleled revenue opportunities for the state. Horse racing, casinos and sports betting could deliver an income which could be used to bolster college education according to house representatives. And they say this is the reason why it’s so important for voters to understand the full implications of making the right decision.
One of the Republican representatives has estimated that legalising gambling could raise as much as $1 billion from taxation.
If gambling was given the green light, the proposal would be to create larger, resort casinos rather than a series of smaller venues around the state. Lawmakers believe this would create the right balance rather than inundating every area with betting venues.
Although the casino resorts would not be on a large scale like Las Vegas, there could be additional economic benefits for the area too such as the creation of jobs. Lawmakers anticipate that an independent commission would regulate the industry to maintain strict controls over conduct.
