ATLANTA— State Representative Keisha Waites (D-Atlanta) today pre-filed House Resolution 5, the “Casino Poker Room” bill. This legislation would create a referendum, which would allow voters to decide on the legalization of poker rooms in select entertainment districts in Georgia.
“Billions of dollars are leaving the State of Georgia and flowing into Florida, Mississippi, and Alabama as a result of casino gambling,” said Rep. Waites. “That is money that could be coming into the state of Georgia. With approval from the voters, poker rooms could be the first of many steps toward gaming in our state. This bill has the potential to generate tax revenue for schools, scholarships, create jobs, and spur tourism and economic development. House Resolution 5 is a jobs generator with the potential to create thousands of jobs in Georgia through construction and operations.”
House Resolution 5 will be formally introduced during the 2015 legislative session. The bill will only legalize poker rooms in counties and cities that have an established entertainment district and have approved the practice through a referendum.
Representative Keisha Waites represents the citizens of District 60, which includes portions of Clayton and Fulton counties. She was elected into the House of Representatives in 2012, and currently serves on the Interstate Cooperation, Juvenile Justice, Public Safety and Homeland Security, Special Rules, and Transportation committees.
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