A high-powered Republican joins the army of casino lobbyists in Georgia
Barbour is among a half-dozen lobbyists boosting Wynn, a group that also includes former state Rep. Ed Lindsey. They are but a small fraction of the larger legion of pro-gambling lobbyists in the halls of the statehouse.
In all, about 40 lobbyists working for gambling firms are registered under the Gold Dome this year. Nearly two dozen work for MGM Resorts International – which has already pitched a $2 billion casino for downtown Atlanta.
The rest work for Las Vegas Sands, Penn National Gaming, Elite Casino Resorts, Boyd Gaming Corp. and a handful of other gambling firms.
Barbour also isn’t the only high-powered advocate pushing the casino industry in person. Sheldon Adelson, the Republican mega-donor who runs Sands, also quietly met with Deal in 2015 to push a $2 billion resort his one-time deputy pledged would be an “architectural wonder.”
AJC
2/8/17
Magnolia Tribune
