The state of Georgia is looking into legalizing casino gambling, with meetings set for September to discuss the subject. State lawmakers will be meeting for the very first time to discuss casino gaming after MGM Resorts International announced publicly they are pushing to create a Las Vegas style gambling facility to the state.

The first meeting will take place from 1 to 4:30pm on September 14th at the Coverdell Legislative Office Building in room 606. The second meeting will follow the next morning in the same location, taking place from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm.

The meetings will be hosted by the Senate Preservation of the HOPE Scholarship Program Study Committee and the group will also be adding horse racing to the discussion for consideration. The legislative study committee has until the 1st of December to report their findings and is expected to explore economic as well as social issues related to the gambling industry during this time frame.

If Georgia were to expand into gambling, the revenues for programs in the state including the HOPE college scholarship program and early childhood pre-k options would be boosted.