The Georgia Lottery Board could vote to allow video lottery terminals in the state.  Under the Georgia Lottery for Education Act [pdf], Section 50-27-10, Paragraph 1, the board can adopt procedures for the lottery including

"the types of games to be conducted, including, but not limited to instant lotteries, on-line games and other games traditional to the lottery.  Such games may include the selling of tickets, or shares, or the use of electronic or mechanical devices."

Thus far, the board has decided to take no action.

"We believe this is a public policy decision that a seven member, appointed board, should not, unilaterally, decide on its own," says Lottery Board Chairman James Braswell.  "It is a lot of money, but there are a lot of other social issues to consider anytime you step out and do something like this.  This is something radically different."

Braswell says, as for saving the HOPE, that should not fall solely on the board.

"I'm not so sure it's unilaterally up to us to save the HOPE Scholarship," says Braswell.  He says the State Board of Regents also needs to bear some responsibility.

"There's a supply side of raising money for the HOPE Scholarship," he says, "but there's also a demand side, which the Georgia Lottery Corporation really has nothing to do with.  I think everybody has looked at the rising cost of a college education."

Ultimately, Braswell says, Governor Nathan Deal would need to give the board some guidance, if video gaming is to come to Georgia. 

The Governor has been unwavering in his position.

"I don't favor anything that looks like a casino, and that looks like a casino to me," says the Governor.  "We have a very lottery system in the state of Georgia.  We need to protect it and enhance it in any way we can.  But I think the concept of video terminals does expand the idea of the lottery in its traditional sense."