Almost without overt human effort, the movement toward casino gambling in Georgia appears to be snowballing. Prime mover behind the low-key, but 
seemingly inevitable process is state Rep. Ron Stephens (R, left), whose bill would not only put two casinos in Atlanta but one in his home town of Savannah. (Three others would be placed at corners of the state.) Heck, even Gov. Nathan Deal (R) is sounding like he might sign off on a casino bill if the tax rate is lifted above the investment-friendly 12% Stephens proposes.
Lobbyists are already thick on the ground. Boyd Gaming and Penn National Gaming have three each pressing the flesh but MGM Resorts International has contributed 14 to the effort. Atlanta has become a highly coveted prize for the company. Anti-casino groups, meanwhile, are bypassing the political process and pestering legislators at home. (Just the thing to brighten up the Christmas recess.) In the new year, expect debate to commence with the Jan. 11 release of a report by a specially convened study committee. It probably won’t move the needle much one way or another, as it will be a simple statement of findings, not either an advocacy or a denunciation.
* New Jersey state senate President Stephen Sweeney (D) has shown his hand, introducing a bill that would set up a referendum whereby Garden State voters could give thumbs-up or -down to the idea of two northern-tier 
casinos, ending Atlantic City‘s monopoly. The two casinos could be no closer than 75 miles of the Boardwalk and would have to be each in different counties. Sweeney has until Jan. 11 to get the Lege to approve the bill via a supermajority or it’s game over. One sweetheart provision for Atlantic City would limit the developers of the two new casinos to companies that either already own a Boardwalk casino or hold a Garden State gaming license.
A potential supporter, Assemblyman Ralph Caputo (D) — who was taken by surprise by Sweeney’s announcement, even though it’s been a longtime fixation — thinks Sweeney’s bill gives away too much of the projected tax revenue (49%) to Atlantic City. He’s like to see some state aid diverted to the seaside but would prefer dollars to be spent on the elderly and disabled. He calls Sweeney’s 15-year revenue split, “an inordinate amount for too long a period of time.” Even if Sweeney doesn’t get his ballot question, one can expect the issue to become one of his platform planks as he pursues the governor’s mansion in Trenton.
At least one voice was heard in opposition to Sweeney. “North Jersey casinos would be disastrous for our local economy, driving jobs and investment out of our region,” said state Sen. James Whelan (D), who represents Atlantic City. He’s going to need to build more than a chorus of one if Sweeney’s bill is to be stopped.
* We didn’t think that Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV‘s adverse ruling was going to be the last word on a Martha’s Vineyard casino and indeed the Aquinnah Wampanoag Indians have filed an appeal with Saylor, asking him to overturn his own verdict. Given the definitive terms Saylor laid down in denying the tribe a casino, a judicial about-face seems unlikely, and we suspect the Aquinnah are warming up for the all-but-inevitable resort to the nearest court of appeals.
