Published on: April 13, 2026, at 08:05 AM.

Updated on: April 13, 2026, at 08:05 AM.

• The top Democratic candidate in the Georgia gubernatorial race advocates for casino legalization.
• Keisha Lance Bottoms believes that casino tax revenues can enable universal pre-K education.
• Georgia voters must endorse casinos through a statewide ballot initiative first.

Keisha Lance Bottoms, the former mayor of Atlanta and a senior advisor to President Joe Biden, is placing her support behind the expansion of casino gaming to help bring a Democratic victory in the Georgia governor’s race.

Currently leading the Democratic ticket for the upcoming May 19 primary, Bottoms holds a significant lead over Geoff Duncan, her nearest opponent and former Republican lieutenant governor of Georgia, who transitioned parties after the tumultuous 2020 election.

A cornerstone of Bottoms’ campaign is ensuring pre-K access for every child aged four in Georgia. She plans to partially finance this initiative by introducing Las Vegas-style casinos to the state.

Georgia’s Casino Landscape 

As a mother of four, Bottoms emphasizes the importance of early education, asserting it provides children with essential skills in literacy and more.

“As your governor, I will ensure pre-K access for every four-year-old, while also shifting our educational framework to begin with kindergarten instead of first grade. These advancements will create a stronger learning foundation for our students, keep them engaged, and foster community growth while increasing job prospects for potential educators,” stated Bottoms.

Bottoms proposes that casino revenues could significantly cover the costs of pre-K education in the state. However, citizens must first amend the state constitution to permit slot machines, table games, and potentially sports betting via a statewide constitutional vote.

“To fulfill this commitment, we must empower Georgia voters to have the final say,” Bottoms outlined. “A constitutional amendment is necessary, as the Georgia Constitution prohibits casino betting unless explicitly permitted, which means we cannot authorize it through regular legislation alone.”

She estimates that casinos could generate between $300 million and $500 million annually in tax revenue dedicated to universal pre-K. While ambitious, these projections contrast sharply with last year’s total of $216.8 million in tax contributions from all nine casinos in Atlantic City combined.

Is a Democratic Victory Possible in Georgia?

Over the past twenty years, Georgia has leaned increasingly Republican. Roy Barnes was the final Democrat to occupy the governor’s office, concluding his term in January 2003. The Republicans have held the Senate since 2003 and the House since 2005.

Jones is backed by Trump, while Jackson maintains close ties to the former president, having contributed $1 million to Make America Great Again Inc., despite previously donating to Trump’s opponents in both 2020 and 2024.