Georgia Gubernatorial Candidate Keisha Lance Bottoms Bets on Casinos To Turn Governor’s Office Blue
Posted on: April 13, 2026, 08:05h.
Last updated on: April 13, 2026, 08:05h.
- The leading Democratic candidate in the Georgia gubernatorial election supports casino gambling
- Keisha Lance Bottoms thinks casino tax revenue could provide universal pre-K
- Georgians would first need to approve of casinos through a statewide ballot referendum
Keisha Lance Bottoms, the former mayor of Atlanta who served as a senior advisor to President Joe Biden, is staking a bet on the liberalization of casino gambling in hopes of turning the Georgia governor’s office blue.
Bottoms is the polling front-runner to win the Democratic ticket during the May 19 primary election. An Emerson College poll last month had Bottoms up by more than 20 points over her closest challenger, Geoff Duncan, the former Republican lieutenant governor of Georgia, who switched parties after President Donald Trump said the 2020 election was stolen and Georgia was largely to blame.
A pillar of Bottoms’ campaign is guaranteeing pre-K access for every four-year-old in Georgia. She hopes to partially fund the initiative by bringing Las Vegas casinos to the Peach State.
Georgia Casinos
Bottoms, a mother of four, says early learning gives students a jump-start on literacy and other lasting benefits.
“As governor, I will guarantee pre-K access to every four-year-old in Georgia, as well as move the start of our education system from first grade to kindergarten. These changes will help ensure a stronger foundation for learning for students across the state, help students stay on track, create investment in communities, and bolster job opportunities for aspiring educators,” said Bottoms.
The former Atlanta mayor suggests using casino gaming to cover the state’s pre-K expenses. Georgians would first need to amend the state constitution to allow slot machines, table games, and possibly sports betting through a statewide constitutional referendum.
Funding this promise starts with giving Georgia voters the final say,” Bottoms explained. “A constitutional amendment is required because the Georgia Constitution provides that casino gambling is prohibited unless specifically allowed, so casino gaming cannot be authorized by ordinary legislation alone.”
Bottoms projects that casinos could deliver $300 million to $500 a million a year in tax revenue to help support universal pre-K. Those are rather lofty projections, as the nine casinos in Atlantic City collectively paid New Jersey $216.8 million on their in-person gaming revenue last year.
Can a Democrat Win in Georgia?
Georgia has become increasingly red over the past two decades. Roy Barnes was the last Democrat to hold the governor’s office, with his term ending in January 2003. Republicans have held the Senate since 2003 and the House since 2005.
The 2026 midterms, however, could be a referendum on Trump. With Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp term-limited, billionaire Rick Jackson, the founder and CEO of medical staffing firm Jackson Healthcare, and Burt Jones, the lieutenant governor of Georgia, are the betting favorites for the Republican ticket.
Jones is endorsed by Trump. Jackson also has close ties to the president, giving $1 million to Make America Great Again Inc. However, Jackson previously donated to Trump opponents in both 2020 and 2024, including Jeb Bush, Nikki Haley, and Liz Cheney.
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