A businessman from Georgia aims to create and manage a riverboat casino and events venue, but he must first gain the backing of state and local legislators for this to occur.
Charles Craton has had a prosperous career in business in both Atlanta and Rome, Georgia. As stated on his LinkedIn profile, Craton has been a notable presence in multiple sectors, such as promotional products, event merchandising, commercial real estate, consulting, and retail, for more than 40 years.
The serial entrepreneur aims to break into a different sector — one that would fundamentally alter the composition of the Peach State.
Georgia ranks as one of the least welcoming states for gambling in the nation. Only the state-operated lottery and specific types of small charitable games of chance are allowed forms of gambling, since the state lacks commercial or tribal casinos, riverboat gaming, parimutuel betting, racinos, online gaming, or sports wagering.
Craton aims to alter this situation. In response to a question from Casino.org about whether he believes that lawmakers are moving closer to supporting casino gambling, Craton replied:
"Yes, I do believe the tide is beginning to turn in Georgia. 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. What was once considered politically untouchable is now being openly debated in Atlanta — not just by legislators, but by city leaders across the state,” Carton told us.
“Atlanta, Columbus, and Savannah are already lining up for opportunities if legislation passes. My hope is that Rome won’t be left behind. The Queen of the Coosa offers a uniquely Southern, historically grounded vision — not just a casino, but a full entertainment and tourism experience that celebrates our rivers and creates jobs without burdening taxpayers,” Craton added.
Proposed Riverboat Gaming
Craton, a resident of Rome whose house is located by the Coosa River, has unveiled a preliminary idea for a paddlewheel riverboat casino that would be permanently docked, featuring a high-end restaurant and bar, a dance hall, and a venue suitable for weddings, meetings, and concerts. According to the project's website, Craton’s Rome Riverboat Casino, also known as the Queen of Coosa, would generate local employment, produce new tax income, and enhance tourism.
In a conversation with Coosa Valley News, Craton mentioned that the state and city have primarily not capitalized on Georgia’s numerous natural resources, especially its rivers.
Craton has committed to entirely fund the initiative with no financial contribution from taxpayers.
"The goal is to create something that actually generates new tax revenue for the city — the kind of revenue that could help fix potholes, improve roads, fund parks, and more,” Craton wrote on Facebook.
The businessman states that the local government mainly relies on sales and property taxes for funding. Should residents desire an increase in funding for infrastructure or additional government services and projects, the sole solution is raised property taxes or new economic initiatives similar to the one he proposed.
Upstream Challenge?
Although more substantial legislative debates in Atlanta concerning the termination of the state’s long-standing ban on casino gambling have occurred in recent years, the Georgia General Assembly has not yet passed a gaming bill to the governor or proposed a statewide amendment to the state Constitution to permit new types of gambling.
To realize Craton’s riverboat aspirations, the General Assembly must approve a bill with a two-thirds majority to start a statewide ballot referendum aimed at amending the Georgia Constitution. A simple majority of voters would be required to change the state’s foundational framework to permit riverboat gambling.
Georgia prohibits citizen-sponsored ballot referendums, and the governor cannot veto legislative actions aimed at proposing amendments to the state Constitution via ballot referendums.