Are Georgia lawmakers willing to gamble on casinos and horses?

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Casinos and horse racing could be the latest gamble by Georgia lawmakers trying to grab more cash for government-sponsored college scholarships and education programs. But bringing Las Vegas-style games and a legal opportunity to bet on four-legged animals still has its fair share of opponents in the Peach State.

Three months of testimony kick off Monday and Tuesday at the Capitol, with recommendations due by Dec. 1 about whether expanded gambling opportunities in Georgia could pay off or break the bank.

Members of joint House and Senate committees studying the issue are charged in part with seeing how much money the effort — which would essentially legalize casino gaming and parimutuel betting on horse racing so that the state may tax it — could raise. They are also expected to focus on the economic development opportunities the effort may bring as well as potential social effects often cited by opponents.

“I don’t know of anyone who would think, ‘Wow, if we got casinos, we could reduce sex trafficking,’ ” said Mike Griffin of the Georgia Baptist Convention, which is staunchly opposed to a gambling expansion here and is the largest religious group in the state (counting some 1.3 million members).

HOPE scholarship, pre-k program could benefit

Any gambling expansion in Georgia would be expected to boost revenue for popular education programs across the state, including early childhood pre-k programs and the HOPE college scholarship program, which has helped more than 1.7 million Georgians pay for college since its inception in 1993. The programs are popular but have struggled financially to keep up with both needs and demand, despite record profits from the Georgia Lottery that currently funds them.

“I think it’s key that it’s about education and the preservation of the Hope scholarship,” said state Sen. Brandon Beach, R-Alpharetta, who is heading the Senate’s study committee and has openly touted what he thinks will be economic benefits from businesses that could open or relocate here under any new proposal.

Business interests began months ago touting the thousands of jobs they say the effort would create in Atlanta and elsewhere. Supporters who want a constitutional amendment to legalize casino gambling put before Georgia voters as early as 2016 also say local residents would have control — via the ballot box — whether to put out a welcome mat.

Groups as influential as the Georgia Chamber acknowledge a stake in the outcome.

“We are closely following the work of the committee,” chamber spokeswoman Keisha Hines said, adding that the chamber also appreciated the leadership of House study committee Chairman Matt Ramsey, R-Peachtree City, “on this vitally important issue.”

“Securing the future of Hope is critical for the long-term sustainability of Georgia’s workforce,” Hines said.

Opponents, however, said lawmakers would miss the point of only focusing on business interests.

“We think it’s an issue when they’re putting money over morality. That’s never a good thing for children who they say they want to help,” the Baptist Convention’s Griffin said. “It would be a level of gambling the state has never had before, and I can’t see any amount of money justifying it.”

Committee’s work to continue beyond this week

State Rep. Calvin Smyre, D-Columbus, a member of the study committee, said the panel will seek as much input as possible. That includes at least six more days of meetings, including some expected to be held near Savannah — one possible target for expansion. But, Smyre said, he also views the question of whether to allow casino gambling as an economic development issue.

“It’s a tough issue,” Smyre said. “After all, it has to go before the voters. This is the first step in trying to see what is possible, what the future may hold.”

Smyre isn’t sure whether that future includes casinos.

“It remains to be seen,” he said. “I’d like to see us go in the direction of trying to have the industry in Georgia. I’d also like to see it tied to HOPE in some fashion.”

Smyre likens the committee’s work to that of a similar panel that studied transportation funding last summer. That committee, which Smyre also served on, helped set the basis for passage this year of a landmark bill that is expected to raise $1 billion a year for new roads and bridges.

“I’m eager to learn more about it, the pros and the cons,” he said.

Gaming businesses already doing groundwork

Gambling companies are not waiting for the committee.

At least three gaming companies are said to be seeking a change in state law to allow them to operate here.

The biggest, MGM, first raised eyebrows during this year's legislative session by unveiling a poll that showed support for casino gambling and legislation that would allow for up to six casinos in Georgia.

The gambling giant has hired an army of 16 lobbyists, including former Senate President Pro Tem Eric Johnson, R-Savannah, top Democratic operative Tharon Johnson, former Republican aide Chuck McMullen, and veteran contract lobbyists Chandler Haydon, Brian Hudson and Andrew Long.

The company has already scouted possible Atlanta locations for a $1 billion resort.

Boyd Gaming Corp., which operates casinos in eight states, has hired three Georgia lobbyists, including top Capitol operatives John Watson and Lewis Massey

A third company, Penn National Gaming, which operates casinos and racetracks in 18 states, is also eyeing Georgia but has yet to hire Capitol consultants.