NORCROSS, Ga. — The developer who wants to bring video gaming to Gwinnett County plead his case today to the Georgia Lottery Board Thursday.
The proposed site is off Jimmy Carter Boulevard in Norcross.
Channel 2's Erica Byfield found out the Georgia Lottery Board has the power to approve the project, but the board's chairman said without that support of the governor or legislators, the board doesn't want to take a vote.
"We believe it's a public policy decision that a seven-member appointed board should not decide on its own," Georgia Lottery Board Chairman Jimmy Braswell said.
With that it appears efforts to turn the vacant land in Norcross into a mixed use gambling facility isn't going anywhere anytime soon.
"I think we would need some degree of support from the governor and the leadership," Braswell said.
Dan O'Leary is the developer pushing for the project. He pitched his idea before the lottery board Thursday.
O'Leary told the room his plan would bring thousands of jobs to Gwinnett County and save the HOPE scholarship.
"If it's decided that the HOPE scholarship is still a valuable asset to the state of Georgia, then we have to let the lottery operate in a competitive, first-class manner," O'Leary said.
Under O'Leary's proposal, the Georgia lottery would own, control and maintain the video gaming machines.
Another speaker told the board O'Leary's plan would lead to increased crime and divorce rates.
"Are we willing to sacrifice the well-being of individuals in Norcross and the surrounding community for the sake of increased revenue or money?" Toby Tatum of the Georgia Family Council said.
In the past, Gov. Nathan Deal said he was against expanding gaming in Georgia.
Based on what he told Channel 2 Action News on Thursday, he hasn't changed his mind.
"I think that I've made my position clear. I don't favor anything that looks like a casino," Deal said.
O'Leary asked the Lottery Board to visit his site.
This past legislative session, a bill in the Georgia House about expanding gaming in the state never made it to the floor.
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