Category Archives: Pari-mutuel Betting

January 1, 2016 Newsletter

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(The January 1, 2016 Newsletter content includes these topics: Casinos, horse racing, marijuana, new legislators)

Critical Issues Await 2016 General Assembly

Carryovers from 2015 Session

  • Bills left-over for 2016 – 438 House bills (H.B.) and 179 Senate bills (S.B.) – total 617.
  • Resolutions left-over for the 2016 session – 92 H.R. and 77 S.R. – total 169.
  • Left-over totals – 786 bills and resolutions remain alive for action in 2016.

House and Senate Action in the 2015 Session

  • Of the 955 bills introduced in the 2015 General Assembly, 706 H.B. passed and 249 S.B. passed.
  • Of those 955 bills introduced, only 12 were defeated or withdrawn.
  • Of the 1,610 resolutions introduced in 2015, 960 H.R. and 650 S.R. passed – total 1,439.
  • Governor Deal signed 239 House bills and vetoed eight House bills.
  • Governor Deal signed 62 Senate bills and vetoed three Senate bills.

The governor’s signature on a bill indicates his support, and frequently prompts a signing ceremony and photo-op for supportive citizens and organizations, as well as the bill’s author and other legislators. Legislation the governor signs may become law upon his signature, but other bills that passed become law on the up-coming July 1st or as specified in the legislation.

  • To read the rest of this newsletter in PDF format, please click here.

January 8, 2016 Radio Commentary

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2016 Session Convenes Next Monday

Radio Commentary, 90.7, 91.7 New Life FM, January 8, 2016 – By Sue Ella Deadwyler

Next Monday our senators and representatives report to work at 10:00 o’clock to begin this year’s 40-day legislative session. Among the legislators will be eight new representatives and two new senators, who won special elections since last session.

If I were a new legislator, I would be astonished to learn that 786 bills and resolutions are still alive from last year’s session and I would be even more astonished to know how critically important some of those bills are.

For example: If I were a new representative, I might ask Representative Ron Stephens why he waited until the last week of last session to introduce two highly controversial bills. One is H.R. 807 that would change the State Constitution to authorize the building and operation of six resort casinos in Georgia. The other is his 127-page H.B. 677 that would legalize and regulate those six resort casinos. Then, I would ask him why he thinks Georgia needs an industry that charges a half-million-dollars to simply apply for a license. If the application is accepted, the license will cost the applicant $25,000,000 or $10,000,000 depending on where the casino will be located. Even if the application is turned down, the half-million-dollars won’t be refunded. Continue reading →

January 30, 2015 Radio Commentary

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Horse-Racing: Where the Money Goes

Radio Commentary, 90.7, 91.7 New Life FM, January 30, 2015 – By Sue Ella Deadwyler

Over the years bill after bill has been introduced to legalize horse racing and pari-mutuel betting in Georgia. Thankfully, none of them passed. But here we go again! On November 17th, Representative Harry Geisinger pre-filed H.R. 1 for consideration in the 2015 legislative session. It would add horse-racing and pari-mutuel betting to the lottery section of the State Constitution and nullify current constitutional language that prevents pari-mutuel betting and casino gambling in Georgia.

If H.R. 1 were to pass, legislation would be needed to regulate the races and race tracks, the horses, satellite feeds, the veterinarians, and whatever staff deemed necessary to create and maintain another gambling industry in Georgia. That’s where H.B. 2 comes in. On November 17th, the same day he pre-filed H.R. 1, Representative Geisinger introduced H.B. 2 as a regulatory bill for H.R. 1. Those regulations would provide oversight, administration, funding and distribution of whatever proceeds are left after gamblers collect their winnings and over-head expenses are paid.

If H.R. 1 passes the General Assembly, voters would be asked on the next General Election ballot whether they want a licensed racetrack and pari-mutuel betting in their county or municipality. In locations where a majority of voters say, “Not in my back yard (NIMBY),” proponents of horse-racing and pari-mutuel betting could depart and look for greener pastures (no pun intended). So, ultimately, voters could decide whether horse tracks and gambling descend upon their community. However, the same ballot question mentions that a percentage of the proceeds would be used for higher education, voluntary pre-kindergarten programs and funding of certain medical services. Continue reading →

December 12, 2014 Radio Commentary

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Horse Racing & Pari-mutuel Betting would Expand Government

Radio Commentary, 90.7, 91.7 New Life FM, December 12, 2014 – By Sue Ella Deadwyler

Are you ready to create another government agency? If not, we have a battle on our hands. On November 17th Representative Harry Geisinger pre-filed H.R. 1 to make horse racing constitutional in Georgia. At the same time, he pre-filed his 38-page H.B. 2 to make it happen. But those 38 pages go beyond horse racing. They outline a system for pari-mutuel betting to be controlled by a seven-member all-expenses-paid horse racing commission to license racetrack facilities and schedule at least 60 live racing days in Georgia every year. The races would be simulcast to satellite facilities throughout the state and Internet betting would be set up to accommodate online gamblers.

They expect to collect a ton of new revenue, but let’s look at the facts. First, it’s never cheap to expand government and hire new people. Second, gambling is extremely harmful to gamblers and families. Average pathological gamblers pay about $1,200 a year to treat their habit, although they might never be cured. A fourth of habitual gamblers lose their jobs; 28 percent file for bankruptcy or owe $75,000 to $150,000 gambling debts; players with incomes under $10,000 lose nearly 10 percent of the family income at casinos and do three times more betting in lotteries than those earning over $50,000. 28 percent of pathological gamblers are either separated or divorced, nearly double the non-gambler rate and one in five commits suicide, a rate 20 times higher than non-gamblers. Continue reading →