Petersburg On line casino Effort Stays Alive, Fairfax On line casino Invoice Useless
A Virginia Senate subcommittee gave hope to a Petersburg on line casino effort on Thursday by advancing laws that may designate the city as a professional gaming host jurisdiction.
Sycamore St. in downtown Petersburg. Petersburg, just like the 5 Virginia cities that certified in 2020 to contemplate casinos to offer their areas with an financial spark, has definitely seen higher days. (Picture: WTVR)
Virginia legalized industrial gaming in 2020, however solely within the cities of Richmond, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Bristol, and Danville. These cities met the qualifying standards dictated by the Normal Meeting that prompt how a on line casino may assist revitalize the native economies of these distressed communities.
Earlier than a on line casino is totally approved for every metropolis, the native authorities should area a improvement companion by means of a aggressive bidding course of. The ultimate hurdle is gaining voter help by means of a neighborhood poll referendum. Voters in all however Richmond signed off on their respective gaming tasks.
Richmond’s on line casino referendum failed by lower than 1,500 votes. State Sen. Joe Morrissey (D-Petersburg), whose district contains southern parts of Richmond, has since been attempting to maneuver Richmond’s rejected gaming license to Petersburg, about 20 miles south of the state capital.
The Gaming Subcommittee of the Senate Committee on Normal Legal guidelines and Expertise accredited Morrissey’s Senate Invoice 780 on Thursday. The measure now strikes to the complete committee for additional consideration.
Legislative Parts
Morrissey’s invoice seeks to permit Petersburg to contemplate a on line casino improvement. The laws would additionally prohibit Richmond from internet hosting one other on line casino referendum till Petersburg “has had an inexpensive alternative” to contemplate a gaming endeavor.
A examine performed by the Virginia Joint Legislative Audit and Overview Fee (JLARC) concluded final fall that casinos in each Richmond and Petersburg can be worthwhile. Nonetheless, every would generate far much less income if each have been to open.
Baltimore-based Cordish Corporations, which operates casinos in Maryland and Pennsylvania, gained Petersburg’s on line casino bidding. The corporate pitched the city a $1.4 billion challenge — unfold out over a few years with a number of improvement levels — however the firm’s curiosity would wane if Richmond have been to open a on line casino, too.
The Richmond Metropolis Council and Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney (D) wish to reask metropolis residents concerning the $565 million on line casino. Black-focused media conglomerate City One in partnership with billionaire gaming veteran Jon Yarbrough pitched the challenge.
Richmond’s 2021 on line casino consortium moreover included Peninsula Pacific Leisure (P2E), which was to run the property ought to it come to fruition. P2E has since been offered to Churchill Downs, Inc. The Kentucky-headquartered horse racing and gaming operator mentioned it could take into account becoming a member of a brand new pact ought to Richmond transfer ahead with one other strive.
Fairfax On line casino Tossed
A separate legislative effort to designate Fairfax County as a professional on line casino location was a short-lived endeavor in 2023.
State Sens. David Marsden (D-Burke) and Del. Wren Williams (R-Stuart) filed laws final week on the ultimate day of the 2023 legislative session to permit Fairfax to contemplate a on line casino with its personal native referendum. Marsden admitted that the chances have been lengthy of the invoice gaining traction this 12 months due to its extremely controversial matter.
Simply 5 days after being launched on Jan. 20, Marsden and Williams’ Senate Invoice 1543 was yanked from its assigned committee. The Senate Committee on Normal Legal guidelines and Expertise accredited Marsden’s request that the invoice is struck from additional consideration.
Marsden didn’t instantly reply for remark as to why he killed his personal invoice. However he beforehand mentioned the problem would seemingly be extra strongly thought of in the course of the state’s 2024 legislative session.
