Atlanta Casino Push Gains Powerful Lobbyist, Golden Nugget Owner Ready to Bet on Georgia

Two identical Atlanta casino bills have been introduced to both chambers for the state’s General Assembly, and gambling companies over the country are readying for the legislative fight by employing high-profile lobbyists.
It’s tough to find fertile non-gaming areas in the United States, particularly in major metropolises. An Atlanta casino bill seeks to create land-based gambling to Georgia, much to your delight of billionaire Tilman Fertitta.
Probably the most recent name to join the push for casinos in Georgia is former Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour. The Republican who served two terms leading The Magnolia State has filed lobbyist documents in Atlanta to represent the interests of Las Wynn that is vegas-based Resorts.
Barbour joining the discussion is very important due to his long friendship with current Georgia Governor Nathan contract (R). State lawmakers have been pressing to legalize gambling that is commercial Georgia for more than a year in an effort to increase tax revenue.
Deal has opposed legislation that is such the last, but recently hinted he would be open for a discussion should the casino law mandate that almost all the proceeds help training, plus the impact wouldn’t directly harm the state’s lottery system.
Though Georgia doesn’t actually have land-based tribal or commercial gambling, nor pari-mutuel wagering, the Peach State sold $4.556 billion worth of lottery seats in 2016. That resulted in a net bounty of over $1 billion for state training programs.
Devil Went Down Seriously to Georgia
Georgia, like a lot of the southeast, is usually a conservative declare that happens to be predominantly opposed to the expansion of any type of gambling.
Pew Research found year that is last 66 percent of Georgians classify themselves as ‘highly religious.’ Nevertheless, perhaps surprising to some, is that a poll that is recent by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution found 56 % of likely voters support land-based gambling enterprises.
The present legislation in Atlanta would authorize two commercial gambling enterprises, one within the money, and another in a smaller city. The two licenses would each cost $1 million upfront, with renewals set at $5 million annually. Gross gaming revenue could be taxed at 20 percent.
All Aboard Atlanta
It’s the Atlanta location that the casino that is major want. Senate Bill 79 requires the recipient of the destination that is coveted permit to invest in an investment of at the very least $2 billion.
Along with Wynn Resorts, Sheldon Adelson’s vegas Sands, Penn National Gaming, Boyd Gaming, as well as others have all filed lobbyist workers registrations with Georgia.
Some 40 video gaming lobbyists are now actually accredited by the state, based on public records.
Billionaire Tilman Fertitta, owner of Landry’s and the Golden Nugget, therefore the host of CNBC’s ‘Billion Dollar Buyer,’ is also considering Atlanta. He believes limiting the total number of gambling licenses is in the interest that is best of the state.
Atlanta is regarded as a goldmine for casino operators. The closest commercial casino resort is Harrah’s Cherokee, some 170 kilometers away in vermont.
The possible Atlanta casino offering is attractive for obvious reasons with over 5.7 million residents in the city’s metro, and not a slot machine or table game within a couple hours’ drive.
Osaka’s Desires of Casino Resort on Landfill Island May End Up Trashed
The Japanese city of Osaka is pushing ahead with a project that is ambitious build an integrated casino resort on a synthetic island in Osaka Bay.
Casinos have become likely arriving at Japan and Osaka wants to take the mix, but its plans for a casino that is multi-billion-dollar on Yumeshima area could be a bit of the gamble. (Image: Port and Harbor Bureau, Osaka)
Yumeshima is a landfill that is reclaimed, which the town hopes will be transformed into a gleaming brand new casino, with hotels, shopping, arcades, galleries and a convention center, to be completed by 2024.
Another part of the island are reserved for the World Exposition in 2025, bringing construction that is total to over $7 billion.
The Japanese parliament passed its Integrated Resorts Promotion bill in December, paving the means for full scale casino resorts in the united states for ab muscles first time. Japan has been called the ‘sleeping giant’ of casino gaming, with a market that is potential, depending on which consultant you speak with, up to $40 billion per year.
Osaka desires to be the first player in the market. The snag that is only its plan? Well, there are certainly a few, really.
Built It and They may Not Come
First, it has yet to convince a casino that is global not just to partner along with it, but in addition that Yumeshima Island is the spot to build. To begin with, the city could have to increase its subway system out to the area, an operation that could cost an estimated $600 million, and no one’s quite sure who can pick that bill up.
Osaka Mayor Hirofumi Yoshimura has assured any future casino partner that the town will pick the tab up for a ‘large portion’ with this price, but it’s most likely that this hypothetical partner might prefer to think about a website that doesn’t come with this extra meteoric spending.
There is the suggestion that the Chinese high rollers Osaka dreams of attracting may not need to take the hour’s subway ride from the airport to Yumeshima, having just appeared on board their private jets. Maybe it will be more advantageous and economical to construct a casino closer to the airport, suggest cynics.
Support for Casinos Low
And of course, although the parliament that is japanese passed an act authorizing the regulation of casino gaming, it has not yet developed a framework of regulation. And without such a framework, the country can’t make a claim to have legalized casinos at all, yet.
There is no suggestion, either, of how many licenses will be made available, or whether Osaka is even yet in the running, although it is known to be among the favorites.
But the polls reveal there is small support among the Japanese populace for gambling enterprises (simply 12 percent, according to one), which could cause lawmakers to temper their enthusiasm for producing licenses, at least to begin with with.
Similarly, there isn’t much public support in Osaka for the town’s own casino plan. And meanwhile, the town faces competition that is strong Paris once the host of the 2025 Expo and may well lose the bid, although it won’t find out until November 2018.
Osaka is gambling on too many eventualities, say critics. And exactly what will the populous city do with Yumeshima, which was earmarked for commercial expansion because it was created, if the casino and Expo plans fall through?
Yoshimura told the Japanese press recently that he wasn’t considering a ‘Plan B’ or ‘Plan C.’
‘It will just make putting in a bid more difficult,’ he reasoned.
Jeff Sessions Verified as US Attorney General, Online Gambling at Stake
Jeff Sessions happens to be confirmed because the 84th attorney general of this United States, and for people who help online gambling, that may well not be the news that is best.
Newly sworn in US Attorney General Jeff Sessions could provide problems for online gambling, though the odds would appear to favor inaction on the brand new AG’s part. (Image: Andrew Harnik/Associated Press)
After 20 years in the US Senate, the Alabama congressman assumes on his brand new position in Washington, DC, just like multiple states from shore to coast are considering internet gambling legislation. Nevada, nj-new jersey, and Delaware remain the actual only real three jurisdictions with some form of online betting currently in place.
Perhaps one of the most conservative members associated with Senate during his tenure, Sessions often governs by his United Methodist faith. The religion is adamantly against gambling, the church’s website labeling the practice as ‘a menace to society, life-threatening to the very best interests of moral, social, economic, and spiritual life, and destructive of good federal government.’
‘Christians should abstain from gambling and really should strive to minister to those victimized by the training,’ the United Methodist doctrine concludes.
Court is in Sessions
As US attorney general, Sessions will head the Department of Justice (DOJ) and serve because the nation’s chief legislation enforcement lawyer and officer. That poses a potential problem for states like Pennsylvania, ny, California, as well as others being currently still mulling expanding internet gambling expansion to boost their coffers.
In 2011, the DOJ issued an impression on the Wire Act. The department stated in a memorandum that ‘interstate transmissions of wire communications that do not relate to a ‘sporting event or contest’ fall outside the reach associated with the Wire Act.’ It was that move which opened the door to the possibility of state-by-state legalized and regulated gambling.
Passed in 1961, the Wire Act had long been believed to block states from permitting citizens to put wagers or wagers through wire transmissions. As technology evolved plus the internet became commonplace, the legislation had been extended to encompass online gambling.
During his Senate Judiciary Committee hearing last month, Sessions was asked by Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina), a devout opponent to online gambling, about his views of the 2011 judgment. Sessions replied which he was ‘shocked’ when the DOJ effectively rewrote that interpretation associated with Wire Act.
‘I did oppose (the opinion that is DOJ when it happened, and it seemed to me personally become unusual,’ Sessions replied. ‘ I would revisit it and I also will come to a decision on it according to careful research. I haven’t gone that far to provide you with a viewpoint today.’
Though it appears to be not likely that Sessions would focus enough time on internet gambling when more pressing problems are unquestionably abundant, their comments final month will still cause plenty of unrest among the gaming community that is online.
Senate Split
Sessions obtained his law degree from the University of Alabama in 1973, and served as his state’s attorney general from 1995 to 1997.
While Republicans are thrilled after eight years to finally have a conservative back in the most powerful legal office in the usa, Sessions’ appointment is certainly maybe not without controversy.
The Senate’s confirmation had been largely along party lines, with the tally that is final in at 52-47. Senator Joe Manchin Virginia that is(D-West the lone Democrat who lent his help for the incoming attorney general.
Britney Spears Does It Again, as Vegas Residency Eclipses $100 Million in Revenue
Britney Spears wasn’t lying whenever she said everyone wants a ‘Piece of Me.’ Her appropriately named Las Vegas residency show, according to revenue figures given by Caesars and first reported by Billboard, has now passed away the $100 million market in total ticket sales.
Britney Spears’ Las Vegas residency show has pulled in over $100 million in gross product sales. (Image: Denise Truscello/Getty Images)
Dating back in to her first residency performance at Planet Hollywood in December of 2013, significantly more than 700,000 tickets have actually been sold to eager fans. More specifically, Caesars claims that through to January of this year, 710,418 tickets have actually been sold, creating revenue of $103,399,634. That means an average ticket price of $145.54.
Spears’ nevada show is dark for now, until the lights come right back on in belated March. Thirty shows are already scheduled, with additional likely on the means.
But the pop icon still has a techniques to go before she can phone herself Las vegas, nevada’ biggest headliner. Celine Dion remains the undisputed champ in Sin City. She actually is performed over 1,000 shows dating straight back to 2002, and contains generated over $650 million in residency revenue.
Profit for Caesars
Very little has been going right over the last years that are few Caesars Entertainment. The gaming that is vegas-based filed for bankruptcy in January of 2015, and just recently emerged from liquidation after reorganizing and splitting its holdings into various entities.
Planet Hollywood is beneath the Caesars umbrella, and represents a spot that is bright the organization’s balance sheet.
The gaming mecca is currently in the midst of undergoing an unofficial marketing that is fresh to attract a new demographic to Sin City: the millennial. Throughout her three years at Planet Hollywood, thousands of fans have descended on Las Vegas who probably would have otherwise remained away without the draw of Spears.
Names like Dion and Elton John continue to draw crowds that are huge but it’s a mature audience that has long been coming to the Strip.
Caesars is focusing on the 20 and 30-something crowd by hosting younger residency acts. When Spears took time faraway from her show, Planet Hollywood welcomed Jennifer Lopez in her place.