Politics
Politics

AJC poll: Voters back casino gambling in Georgia

A dealer shuffles cards at a blackjack table at the Hollywood Columbus casino. The casino had its worth November, revenue-wise, since opening in October 2012. FILE PHOTO
A dealer shuffles cards at a blackjack table at the Hollywood Columbus casino. The casino had its worth November, revenue-wise, since opening in October 2012. FILE PHOTO
By Aaron Gould Sheinin
Updated Jan 7, 2017

A majority of Georgia voters say they favor allowing casino gambling in the state, according to a new poll conducted for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

The poll, conducted this week, found that 56 percent of registered voters support the idea, with only 38 percent opposed.

READ MORE: See the full results of the AJC’s latest poll 

Sen. Brandon Beach, R-Alpharetta, is set to introduce a plan in the upcoming legislative session to allow up to five casinos and one horse racing track.

To succeed, Beach will need two-thirds of the House and Senate to agree to allow voters in 2018 to decide whether to amend the state Constitution to allow the new forms of gambling. Local governments and voters would then have to vote again.

While the poll shows support for the idea, the number of those favoring casinos has dropped considerably since January 2016. An AJC poll then found 69 percent supported casino gambling.

MORE: An in-depth look at the coming casino debate

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