Published on: August 28, 2025, 11:20 AM.
Updated on: August 28, 2025, 11:20 AM.
- Both gaming firms express strong interest in establishing casinos in Georgia.
- The state faces challenges as it historically rejects gaming expansion proposals.
Count Boyd Gaming and Wynn Resorts among those ready to compete for casino licenses in Georgia, contingent upon the state’s approval of gaming expansion.
During a recent session with a Georgia House of Representatives study committee focusing on wagering, executives Christopher Gordon of Wynn and Ryan Soultz from Boyd voiced their enthusiasm for potentially entering the market, contingent on legislative approval allowing voter input. Both emphasized the economic advantages associated with land-based casinos.
“You cannot ignore the economic impact,” Gordon remarked to the study committee. “These establishments can be powerful economic engines if well-planned and operated by the right people.”
According to Georgia’s constitution, any gaming expansion requires a super majority approval from both legislative chambers before it can be presented to voters. Following that, a simple majority vote is necessary to amend the state constitution.
The Challenge of Establishing Casinos in Georgia
As evidenced by ongoing debates surrounding sports betting, the path to gaming expansion in Georgia is fraught with obstacles for legislators and proponents.
Georgia ranks as one of the most challenging states for introducing new forms of gaming. While it has a state lottery and some limited charitable gaming options, it lacks iGaming and sports betting, standing alongside Alabama, Hawaii, South Carolina, and Utah as the only states without commercial or tribal gaming establishments.
The potential for growth in Georgia is clear. As the eighth-largest state in the U.S., the prospects for gaming expansions, particularly for brick-and-mortar casinos, remain a topic of interest. Although the consensus among political insiders suggests that 2025 may not see any advancements on this front, calls for casino establishments are likely to resurface next year.
“Naturally, we would be thrilled to establish our presence in Georgia if you allow your constituents the choice to vote on casinos,” Soultz enthusiastically stated during the hearing.
Boyd Gaming has extensive experience operating casinos in the southeastern U.S., with several locations in Louisiana and Mississippi, in addition to a new regional casino project underway in Norfolk, Virginia, in collaboration with the Pamunkey Indian Tribe.
Uncertainties Surrounding Casino Locations in Georgia
Gordon and Soultz provided limited insights regarding potential locations for casinos, but a previously proposed 2018 bill suggested the establishment of three casinos in Georgia, specifically in Atlanta and Savannah.
Rick Lackey, a veteran in Georgia’s commercial real estate sector, informed the committee that Atlanta presents an attractive market yet emphasized the need for a significant player to make the Atlanta casino project viable. Wynn’s reputation could fill this role and, if executed, would likely satisfy investors eager to see a stronger presence of the Wynn brand in the U.S.
Wynn has a proven track record of managing successful operations in urban environments outside Las Vegas. Gordon emphasized the achievements of Encore Boston Harbor at the committee meeting, noting it has contributed $1 billion in taxes to Massachusetts since its opening six years ago.