by Steve Norton

CEO, Norton Management

Deal wants assurances casino bill won’t ‘devastate’ Georgia lottery | Political Insider

My comment:

Governor Deal does not have to worry about two, or even six, casinos or race tracks with slots impacting the State Lottery. When helping the MA Senate on their earlier efforts to pass casino and racino Legislation, I prepared a study on State Lotteries, where new gaming had been introduced. In states like California, Illinois, Missouri, Indiana and New Jersey, lotteries grew in revenue, along with the casinos.

Only in Louisiana and Iowa, were lottery revenues negatively impacted; primarily a result of the amount of new gaming competition approved.

In Louisiana, 15 riverboat casinos were spread around the State, and several tribal casinos opened along with slots at 3 racetracks; plus slots allowed at bars and truck stops, Statewide. Iowa also has multiple riverboat casinos, tribal casinos, casino games at racetracks and has the highest percentage of gaming positions, relative to the State population, in the US.

And when opponents discuss the increases in compulsive gambling, which is a real negative; they forget to mention that state Lotteries typically earn the highest per capita betting from their states lowest income neighborhoods.

The communities mentioned as receiving most of their casino revenue from residents, have many more casino locations, than proposed in Georgia, and far fewer hotel rooms than Atlanta; that should provide an estimated 30 to 40 million guest nights annually, primarily business travelers and convention/ trade show attendees; that are more affluent than the average visitor; and an important customer for an Atlanta casino. And when worrying about resident gambling, Georgia needs to understand that they will bring back hundreds of $millions in revenue; now spent by residents in Florida, Alabama, Biloxi, Louisiana and Nevada; where 93 flights a day leave Atlanta's Hartsfield International for McCaran Airport, in Las Vegas.

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Atlanta airport hotel developer weighs casino idea

My comment:

There is no question that the World's busiest airport would be an excellent site; but if only one casino is allowed in Atlanta, the State needs to look at whether downtown Atlanta would be a superior site. Atlanta has 93,900 rooms; with substantial numbers supporting the convention center, downtown, and the airport. The convention attendee and the commercial business traveler, however, is the preferred visitor, because he is more affluent and is is typically in town for several days; so has more time to participate in the gaming and entertainment facilities of a city-center casino location.