The Georgia Lottery Commission has received a study to analyze the potential and feasibility for establishing casinos in Georgia.
Spectrum Gaming Group has come up with an 84-page report for the GLC, delivered for that Governor to analyze last week. The report features a bidding process, regulation, revenue streams, types of games and machines, and locations for this type of move.
Jim Galloway with the AJC filed a request for the report, that they has graciously shared. (Be warned, this is a large download and might take some time.) The report indicates that the possibility revenue that might be realized to the state of Georgia could approach one billion dollars - no small sum for the state that has spent the last several years looking to close budget gaps of similar size.
The report analyzed the potential for a casino at several different locations in Atlanta at Savannah and/or Jekyll Island. Such locations would generate revenue to the state based on the upfront auction of casino applications and on annual licenses and tax receipts. The upfront application fee, though, could not be too large, or it might hamper the brand new site's capability to generate revenue moving forward.
The six Atlanta locations were determined to maintain downtown Atlanta, Cobb County through the Galleria, DeKalb County near the intersection of I-20 and I-285, South Cobb County near Six Flags, Clayton County close to the airport, as well as the Lake Lanier area in Gwinnett County.
The two locations with all the highest potential gross gaming revenue (GGR) were the downtown location ($791.5 M) as well as the Galleria locations ($788.2 M). The DeKalb option was analyzed to experience a potential GGR of $770.2 M. Clayton County features a projected GGR of $741.8 M, as the South Cobb and Lake Lanier option had the minimum projected GGR.
The plan while using most potential income for Georgia included one casino inside Atlanta area, one casino inside Savannah area, and one inside Jekyll Island area. The sites were evaluated depending on proximity along with other tourist attractions, as the newest casino within the Atlanta area would aim to enhance the city's tourism aspects.
The study also drew upon evaluations of other states' programs, such as Indiana, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey, as well as looking abroad to Singapore's gaming control board. It suggested a robust regulatory framework, supplied from the Georgia Lottery Corporation, to make certain honest gaming and prevention of potential corruption.
The report projects the earliest the state could start seeing revenue through the passage of an gaming bill was 2014. Considering the length of time it latched onto move a Sunday alcohol sales bill forward, this type of fast-track may not be possible. Talk has previously been do about casinos in Atlanta, but more info was quickly sloughed off. If there is support from Georgia's leader this time, then your plan could talk with a different fate.