Wynn Resorts and Boyd Gaming Eye Georgia Casino Opportunities

The debate over legal gambling in Georgia may heat up again next year, and two Las Vegas powerhouses are already raising their hands. Wynn Resorts and Boyd Gaming both told lawmakers they would be ready to invest if the state finally gives casinos the green light.

Good to Know

• Wynn Resorts and Boyd Gaming are watching Georgia closely for casino opportunities.
• Gambling expansion has failed in Georgia seven years in a row.
• A proposal could land on the November 2026 ballot if lawmakers agree.

During a House study committee session this week, Christopher Gordon, president of Wynn Resorts and Wynn Development, said the company would explore Georgia locations if the law changes. He highlighted Wynn’s Encore Boston Harbor project, a $2.6 billion resort that opened in 2019 and has already returned $1 billion in gaming taxes to Massachusetts. Gordon told lawmakers:

“These things are an engine that you can’t imagine if you build the right ones and you get the right operators.” 

Boyd Gaming is on the same page. Ryan Soultz, the company’s vice president for government affairs, said Boyd “would love to be in Georgia,” according to Bisnow.

Georgia has flirted with gambling expansion for years but has never crossed the finish line. Proposals have failed repeatedly, from a 2018 plan for three casinos to the most recent attempt in March to send sports betting and casino gambling to voters. That measure didn’t advance, marking the seventh straight year of stalled progress.

Lawmakers are expected to revisit the issue in January. If both chambers approve with the required supermajorities, the measure could appear on the statewide ballot in November 2026.

Advocates say casinos could generate thousands of jobs and substantial tax revenue. Beyond Atlanta, Savannah and the area near Hartsfield-Jackson airport are considered prime sites for large-scale resorts.

Rick Lackey, founder of Real Professionals Network, told lawmakers that Midtown and Downtown Atlanta also hold strong potential for destination properties.

The pitch from industry leaders is clear: Georgia could capture major economic benefits if it opens the door to regulated casinos, and operators like Wynn and Boyd are ready to make that move.

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