As Georgia legislators prepare for another all-out debate over legalizing gambling, opponents will have an important ally.
The Georgia GOP state committee overwhelmingly passed a resolution over the weekend that opposes casinos and horse racing.
John Watson, the recently-elected chair of the Georgia GOP, recused himself from the Saturday vote. Watson, a veteran operative and lobbyist, has advocated for legalizing gambling on behalf of Boyd Gaming Corp.
The resolution cited concerns that gambling is tied to increasing crime and divorce rates, and warns it could open the door “for any Indian tribe to venue shop for property to open casinos” around the state.
“The state should not have a vested interest in predatory activities such as gambling for the sake of filling state coffers at the expense of ruined lives and broken families,” read the resolution.