The struggle to legalize gambling in the state of Georgia continues as lawmakers are still having trouble coming to some form of compromise as to what gaming options should be offered and how to go about it. Opponents just gained a strong ally over the weekend as the Georgia GOP state committee decided to pass a resolution that shows their opposition to horse racing, casinos, and daily fantasy sports.
According to AJC.com, the resolution includes concerns of how the GOP feels that gambling is connected to an increase in crime rates as well as divorce. The group warns that allowing such gambling could open the door for any Indian tribe to begin shopping around for property to be used to create casino gaming venues. According to the GOP, the state should not have a vested interest in predatory activities like gambling just to fill the state coffers, at the expense of broken families and ruined lives.
Proponents of casino gaming for the state have tried for many years to see the legalization of gambling to no avail. Advocates feel that additional gambling activities like casinos, horse racing, and daily fantasy sports contests would help to provide more funds to the HOPE scholarship program. The program is currently funded by the lottery and provides monies for pre-K programming as well as paying for in-state college tuition for students of Georgia who are able to maintain a 3.0-grade point average.
However, the idea of such gaming has created an influx of opposition from conservatives as well as critics, with several groups coming together to show opposition particularly when legislation was proposed this year to create two destination resort casinos in the state.
For now, it seems the battle will continue as more opposition is being shown and no end in sight to the argument as to whether or not such gambling activities will be beneficial to the state or a problem.
