Politicians in the US state of Georgia are gearing up for another legislative push to authorize casino gambling, and this time they may even have the governor on their side.

On Tuesday, the Atlanta Journal Constitution offered a preview of new casino legislation expected to arrive in the state legislature on Wednesday. The casino bill represents a compromise from previous efforts by limiting the number of proposed gaming venues to two, while eliminating a proposal to allow pari-mutuel betting on horse races.

State Sen. Brandon Beach, a chief sponsor of the new casino push, said the bill would allow for one major ‘destination resort’ in the Atlanta area that would require a minimum investment of $2b. A secondary venue requiring investment of at least $450m would be authorized for either the Savannah, Columbus or Augusta areas.

The number of available licenses is a significant reduction from the six venues originally proposed in the casino legislation that failed to advance last year. That and other changes led Stephens to suggest legislators had “a very, very good chance of getting this thing through.”

The head of the Philippines’ state-run lottery operator has given illegal number game operators an ultimatum: go legal or go to jail.

On Tuesday, Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) general manager Alexander Balutan told local media that the Small Town Lottery (STL) was the “only legal and authorized numbers game nationwide” and the PCSO had “both an invitation and warning” for illegal operators: “go legal.”

As of last year, there were only 18 STL agent corporations authorized to do business in the Philippines but this figure will rise to 56 when the PCSO officially launches the STL expansion on January 31. When all the new authorized STL agents are operational, PCSO chairman Jose Jorge Corpuz says the government expects STL revenue to rise by over P2b (US $40.2m) per month, boosting the annual haul to nearly P28b.

The boost in STL agents follows a recent campaign by the PCSO and Philippine National Police (PNP) to stamp out illegal jueteng numbers game operators. While the campaign was apparently successful in convincing some unauthorized operators to go legit, a Senate hearing on Tuesday featured testimony from PNP officials explaining why anti-illegal gambling operations had declined in recent months.

The head of the Philippines’ state-run lottery operator has given illegal number game operators an ultimatum: go legal or go to jail.

On Tuesday, Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) general manager Alexander Balutan told local media that the Small Town Lottery (STL) was the “only legal and authorized numbers game nationwide” and the PCSO had “both an invitation and warning” for illegal operators: “go legal.”

As of last year, there were only 18 STL agent corporations authorized to do business in the Philippines but this figure will rise to 56 when the PCSO officially launches the STL expansion on January 31. When all the new authorized STL agents are operational, PCSO chairman Jose Jorge Corpuz says the government expects STL revenue to rise by over P2b (US $40.2m) per month, boosting the annual haul to nearly P28b.

The boost in STL agents follows a recent campaign by the PCSO and Philippine National Police (PNP) to stamp out illegal jueteng numbers game operators. While the campaign was apparently successful in convincing some unauthorized operators to go legit, a Senate hearing on Tuesday featured testimony from PNP officials explaining why anti-illegal gambling operations had declined in recent months.