Riverboat Casino Proposal Sails into Contention as Uphill Struggle Awaits Georgia Entrepreneur
May 27, 2025, 07:50h - May 28, 2025, 06:54h
A riverboat casino proposition has surfaced in Rome, Georgia, spearheaded by a local businessman, seeking to alter the state's gaming landscape and revitalize the city.
Charles Craton, an influential figure in industries such as promotional products, commercial real estate, and consulting, has proposed a permanently docked paddlewheel riverboat casino. The project - dubbed the Queen of Coosa - aims to create employment opportunities, boost tourism, and generate new tax revenue for the city.
Georgia is known for its stringent gambling regulations. The state only permits the state-run lottery and specific charitable games, with no commercial or tribal casinos, riverboats, racinos, iGaming, or sports betting in place. Craton's initiative aims to change this status quo.
Speaking to Casino.org, Craton expressed optimism about Georgia's shifting attitudes towards gambling: "Every year, we see legislation introduced that edges us closer to modernizing our gaming laws. While it hasn't passed yet, the conversation has shifted."
The riverboat casino concept includes an upscale restaurant and bar, a dance hall, and an event space that could host weddings, meetings, and concerts. This initiative also promises to avoid burdening taxpayers, as Craton pledged to finance the project entirely.
However, the road to realizing this vision is not without challenges. The state legislature is yet to approve bill proposals for casino gambling, with the Georgia General Assembly yet to move gaming bills to the governor's desk or initiate a statewide amendment to the Constitution.
Craton's riverboat dreams hinge on passing a bill with a two-thirds majority in the General Assembly, followed by a statewide ballot referendum for amending the Georgia Constitution. A simple majority of voters would then be required to adjust the state's founding framework to accommodate riverboat gambling.
While the far-reaching implications of legalizing casino gambling in Georgia are under discussion, the riverboat casino proposal in Rome is still at a conceptual stage. survivors rely on sales and property taxes, and Craton argues that the city's infrastructure and government services could benefit from increased revenue generated by new economic projects like the proposed riverboat casino.
Rome's riverboat casino proposal faces competition from cities like Atlanta and Savannah, which also seek to capitalize on gaming expansion if it becomes legal in the state. If successful, the Queen of Coosa could offer a distinctive Southern, historically grounded entertainment and tourism experience that diverges from traditional casino concepts.
- Charles Craton's proposed riverboat casino, named the Queen of Coosa, could potentially find a home in Rome, Georgia, aiming to revolutionize the city and change the state's gambling landscape.
- Despite Georgia's strict gambling regulations, Craton views the state's shifting attitudes towards gaming as promising, noting the recurring introduction of legislation that gradually eases gaming laws.
- In order to bring his riverboat casino vision to life, Craton will need to navigate the legislative process in Georgia, requiring a two-thirds majority approval from the General Assembly and a subsequent statewide ballot referendum for amending the Constitution to accommodate riverboat gambling.
