Casinos in Atlanta? Shirley says “sure”
November 19, 2008 at 11:30 am by Scott Henry in NewsJust about every year, the city of Atlanta asks the state Legislature to create a local gaming authority, presumably to explore the possibility of bringing some kind of gambling to town. The item has been on the city’s legislative wish list so long that it rarely raises eyebrows anymore. Could this year – as cash-strapped governments everywhere cast about for new sources of revenue – be different?
Mayor Shirley Franklin has again added it to her list and yesterday had a chat with local lawmakers who seemed open to considering gambling as an option.
“There’s a general sense that we’ll see gaming within the city limits and I concur,” Franklin said.
OK, not exactly an impassioned plea for casinos, but desperate times call for desperate measures. Not one to put lipstick on a pig, Franklin pithily summed up the city’s financial picture: “We’re in a downward spiral.”
Nearly all of the mayor’s other requests focused on small tax and fee increases that would bring the city an additional million or two here and there. A casino licensing agreement and vice taxes on gambling could, on the other hand, add tens of millions to city coffers, in addition to helping jump-start redevelopment of Downtown south of Marietta Street – assuming, as most folks do, that a casino would be located at Underground Atlanta.
I’m not trying to stir up hope among craps fans that Atlanta will embrace gambling any time soon. Granted, there were no church leaders in the room, but it seemed telling that none of the politicians present declared their moral opposition to demon roulette. In fact, we already have some longtime advocates of legalized gambling among local elected officials, including Fulton Commissioner Robb Pitts, Atlanta Councilman Jim Maddox and perhaps several more.
What do you think, Atlanta: Should nickel slots be the answer to our fiscal woes? Are we ready for pachinko parlors?
November 19th, 2008 at 1:27 pm
One contact tells me that this is much more likely to happen than in the past and has been on some key players list for about two years. The person said that is one major reason for the surge in high end hotels coming to Atlanta like Mandarin Oriental, three new “W’s”, Hard Rock Hotel, etc They are betting some of their investment on casinos in Atlanta in the near future.
November 19th, 2008 at 1:56 pm
It seems hard to imagine that a state that doesn’t allow beer to be sold on Sundays would legalize gambling in the state, but it should happen. The city needs the tax revenue, the Underground needs a new overhaul, and all you have to do is look at the Harrah’s in the central business district of New Orleans to see that the “evils” the naysayers always predict will accompany casino_s–crime, prostitution, strip clubs, etc.– do not necessarily materialize.
Having travelled to Biloxi, Tunica and New Orleans in the past year to play p_oker, I was always amazed at how many folks from Atlanta were at every table. I guarantee any casin_o that would be built would have an immediate strong customer base.
But I have little faith that this could ever get past Perdue’s desk, which means it probably couldn’t happen for at least another 2 years.
(As a side note: your comment filter rejects any comments containing the words casin_o or p_oker, which you maybe want to change now that you’ve put up a post specifically about casino_s!)
November 19th, 2008 at 3:10 pm
I agree it seems unlikely, but I remember how impossible it seemed to get horse racing in Birmingham.
New Orleans may not be a good example, since they already had prostituion and strip clubs a few blocks away. Plus, the Flamingo boat had been there for years.
Imagine the impact on conventions. Wow
November 19th, 2008 at 3:22 pm
There’s already prostitution and strip clubs within a few miles of downtown Atlanta, too. My point is simply that the area around a casin0 does not automatically descend into crime and squalor once it is built, as some would have us believe. A casin0 can actually fit in well in a downtown area.
November 19th, 2008 at 3:32 pm
I agree that the casin0 doesn’t damage a neighborhood. On the contrary, it usually improves the area, just look at Biloxi.
Since that stuff is already in place in ATL, I guess the casin0 downtown is a go :-)
November 19th, 2008 at 5:01 pm
ugh. can’t we try something not cheesy? Come to downtown Atlanta the home for penguins and roulette…oh and check out our human rights museum when you run out of money.
November 19th, 2008 at 5:26 pm
Casinos bring good jobs, top level eltertainment, fine dining and conventions (i.e big piles of money) to town.
What would you prefer?
November 20th, 2008 at 9:53 am
Yea… about that comment filter… it’s fixed…you can safely use the word casino now…
November 20th, 2008 at 2:21 pm
Never going to happen.
November 21st, 2008 at 1:24 pm
I’d prefer a southern cultural center that featured music (blues, jazz, bluegrass, even southern rock) and art (self taught, folk) that orignated in the south. It could have small and big musical acts playing there. Of course the Tabernacle is already there and thriving but that would be the perfect spot. It would be a real performance hall rather than a bar.
Also i’d like to see a boardwalk style amusement center in downtown Atlanta. Sure its a little cheesy but great for families. A real street car to connect downtown hotels to midtown would be nice.
I realize a casino would bring a lot more money than these things but is that really the only goal? Wouldn’t it be better to have unique places of interest rather than the same stuff some other city has?
November 21st, 2008 at 1:32 pm
Yes, Atlanta is definitely lacking in music venues… wtf??
oooh, a southern culture center, that will really pack them in.
given the financial problems of our city related to our loss of convention buisness, money is a HUGE concern.
It could also about giving the citizens what they want, which is evident by all of the Georgia tags in the parking lots of casinos and tracks in nearby states.
December 14th, 2008 at 3:41 pm
http://WWW.JONESATLANTA.COM CLICK ON THE LINK ‘CASINOS IN ATLANTA’ AT THE BOTTOM RIGHT OF THE PAGE.
JOIN THE MOVEMENT TO BRING CASINOS TO ATLANTA.
February 5th, 2009 at 10:30 pm
I tell you, I am really pushing for gaming at the Underground; especially because I’m about to open up a Rita’s there in March. Check us out http://www.ritasfranchises.com/UndergroundAtlanta
March 17th, 2009 at 4:59 pm
If anyone is going to legalize casinos in Georgia, then do it properly…include table games and alloow them to build casinos wherever they wish. IN addition to Atlanta, Lake Lanier Islands and the coastal areas would be great venues.
Don’t be like other states that don’t allow table games. Slot-only stores don’t bring the money to town. I travel extensively to most casino destinations and can tell you first hand slot-only stores are not where the money is.
Would love it if I could travel a short distance to hit the tables right here in Georgia.
March 22nd, 2009 at 11:21 pm
i think it should be legal in every state. if people wants to gamble let them. they got lottery everywhere.
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April 16th, 2009 at 2:59 am
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May 5th, 2009 at 4:20 am
very good story..
May 20th, 2009 at 12:19 am
Good story!!!
May 29th, 2009 at 1:27 pm
I’m all for gaming in downtown Atlanta…having lived here going on 8 years now, a casino or 2 would offer fresh entertainment and fun…just nix the stupid restrictions and go all out. Plus, as we all know it would boost the Atl economy, provide jobs and bring the tourists in.