The Georgia Lottery Commission has gotten a study to review the potential and feasibility for establishing casinos in Georgia.
Spectrum Gaming Group has build an 84-page report for that GLC, delivered for your Governor to review last week. The report encompasses a bidding process, regulation, revenue streams, varieties of games and machines, and locations for a real move.
Jim Galloway from the AJC filed a request for your report, that she has graciously shared. (Be warned, it is just a large download and may take some time.) The report indicates that the opportunity revenue that is realized to the state of Georgia could approach one billion dollars - no small sum for a state that has spent the last several years attempting to close budget gaps of similar size.
The report analyzed the potential for a casino at several different locations in Atlanta possibly at Savannah and/or Jekyll Island. Such locations would generate revenue for that state depending on the upfront auction of casino applications and so on annual licenses and tax receipts. The upfront application fee, though, could not be too large, or it would hamper the new site's power to generate revenue going forward.
The six Atlanta locations were determined to take downtown Atlanta, Cobb County by the Galleria, DeKalb County near the intersection of I-20 and I-285, South Cobb County near Six Flags, Clayton County near the airport, and the Lake Lanier area in Gwinnett County.
The two locations with the highest potential gross gaming revenue (GGR) were the downtown location ($791.5 M) and also 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, even though the South Cobb and Lake Lanier option had the best projected GGR.
The plan with the most potential income for Georgia included one casino in the Atlanta area, one casino in the Savannah area, and one in the Jekyll Island area. The sites were evaluated determined by proximity with tourist attractions, as the newest casino inside the Atlanta area would aim to enhance the city's tourism aspects.
The study also drew upon evaluations of other states' programs, for example Indiana, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey, as well as looking abroad to Singapore's gaming control board. It suggested a strong regulatory framework, supplied with the Georgia Lottery Corporation, to ensure honest gaming and prevention of potential corruption.
The report projects how the earliest their state could here start seeing revenue in the passage of the gaming bill was 2014. Considering how long it popularized move a Sunday alcohol sales bill forward, this kind of fast-track may not be possible. Talk has previously been help with about casinos in Atlanta, but was quickly sloughed off. If there is support from Georgia's leader this time, then the plan could talk to a different fate.