by Steve Norton
CEO, Norton Management

Georgia Casino Bill Resuscitated But Prognosis Not Good

The new legislation by Representative Ron Stephens that would increase the number of Georgia casinos from 2 to 4 deserves serious consideration. When I look at other Southern states with casino gaming; Iowa, Louisiana and Mississippi; I find 85 casinos and the population of the 3 states just 500,000 more than the 10.3 million in Georgia. Plus none of the above, even New Orleans, have anywhere near the 93,900 accommodations of Greater Atlanta.

Which translates into Georgia's destination resort in Atlanta receiving most of its business from visitors, as long as a 2nd gaming facility serves Atlanta neighborhoods. Mississippi, with a population of just under 3 million, has 40 casinos, Louisiana's 4.7 million residents, enjoy 25 gaming establishments and Iowa's 3.1 million population haves 20 casinos. Plus Louisiana has slots in bars and truck stops statewide. With 4 casinos, Georgia would have 2.6 million residents per casino or 34.5 times Mississippi's 75 thousand. We know Georgian's already visit casinos in North Carolina, Biloxi, Alabama, Florida and Nevada, where Atlanta's Hartsfield International has 93 flights per day to Las Vegas, 9 nonstop. So GA casinos could bring back $400 or $500 million annually, in gaming spending by residents; plus add more exhibitors and attendees to existing conventions and trade shows now booking an Atlanta conference. And in addition, the availability of casino gaming will allow you to attract convention groups, that insist on slots and table games being available at their conference destinations.

With the Hope Scholarships in need of more revenues, casinos are a voluntary form of taxation, now popular in many new states.

I find serious concern with comments by Dave Baker, representing the Faith and Freedom Coalition, because his claims are greatly exaggerated, when he refers to addiction, human trafficking, bankruptcy and crime. Addiction is a bigger problem with state Lotteries, that have higher per capita ticket sales in the lower income neighborhoods. Crime increases do go up in casino and non casino resorts, because the FBI Crime Stats do not include visitors, only the local population in their computations; so most Florida resort destinations, including Family friendly Orlando, have higher Violent and Property Crime rates than Las Vegas. The one real negative that he forgot to mention is traffic congestion, which can be a problem; but fortunately most customers of a city center Atlanta casino, will be staying downtown, and area residents will primarily be attracted weekends and evenings, so will avoid busy drive times; and will arrive and depart at different hours, unlike a sporting or entertainment event. This is the first time I have heard, that human trafficking is a particular problem for gaming resorts.

Four or more casinos create tens of thousands of jobs, $billions in construction and hundreds of $millions in annual taxes. But it requires the GA Legislature to act.