City One and Churchill Downs Again Richmond On line casino Venture with $1 Million Contribution
City One and Churchill Downs this week collectively contributed greater than $1 million to a political motion committee. That outlet is urging voters in Richmond to again the businesses’ proposed $562 million on line casino undertaking.
City One founder Cathy Hughes speaks in Georgia on June 24, 2023. Hughes says her agency and Churchill Downs have been pressured to “waste” $10 million to permit Richmond voters to resolve on a on line casino presentation throughout the 2023 election. (Picture: Getty)
In keeping with state marketing campaign finance information, the “Richmond Wins, Vote Sure” committee beforehand obtained greater than $8.42 million from Kentucky-based Churchill Downs and Maryland-based City One. Churchill Downs accounted for about $4.24 million, and City One $4.18 million.
The 2 corporations, that are asking voters within the Virginia capital to again their gaming growth known as the Richmond Grand Resort & On line casino, gave one other $1.06 million to the PAC final month. Churchill represented the majority of the contribution at $899,269, with City One paying the remaining $168,714.
The businesses have now spent virtually $9.5 million on the 2023 Richmond on line casino referendum. It’s the second time in three years that Richmonders are being requested by their native metropolis authorities to help a on line casino endeavor.
The 2021 gaming referendum was narrowly defeated by a vote of 51-49%. Richmond metropolis officers consider bringing a on line casino resort to Richmond’s Southside adjoining to the Philip Morris plant would offer the capital metro with a much-needed financial set off.
On line casino Assist, Opposition
City One was behind the 2021 on line casino push that Richmonders rejected. The media conglomerate is again for a redo, however his time with Churchill Downs. That’s after it acquired City One’s earlier growth accomplice, Peninsula Pacific Leisure.
Current polling suggests this 12 months’s on line casino vote end result will even be razor-thin. In hopes of enhancing its odds, City One and Churchill Downs have directed appreciable monetary assets to their “Richmond Wins, Vote Sure” marketing campaign.
The cash has been used for marketing campaign ads in help of the on line casino on tv, radio, billboards, yard indicators, and social media. The funds have been additionally used for a latest block occasion and to supply free Uber vouchers for residents who pledge to make use of the rideshare credit to vote.
The opposition to the City One and Churchill Downs on line casino is being led by a political committee known as “No Means No On line casino.” The Household Basis, a conservative, Christian group, can also be working to get out the “no” on line casino vote.
“No Means No On line casino” and the Household Basis have raised lower than $500,000. However the opposition’s grassroots marketing campaign is seemingly resonating in wealthier neighborhoods primarily north of the downtown capital space.
Wasted Cash
City One founder Cathy Hughes is none too happy to have spent greater than $4.25 million of her firm cash on the 2023 on line casino referendum. The cash is along with the $2.6 million the media agency spent on the 2021 referendum.
Talking this week on 104.7FM “Reward Richmond,” which City One owns, Hughes stated the marketing campaign cash might have gone to significantly better use.
God has blessed me with sufficient to construct the Richmond Grand. However $10 million is what the ultimate [campaign] invoice seems to be like. Such a waste. I’m so mad at this opposition,” Hughes stated. “Have you learnt how a lot good I might have carried out with $10 million? I needed to pay the attorneys, the accountants, and the lobbyists … simply to get the chance for you all to vote.”
As for the reviews that City One is dealing with delisting, Hughes dismissed the general public’s considerations.
“Even when they did de-list us, so what? That doesn’t have an effect on our enterprise. That doesn’t have an effect on our work. That’s a standing itemizing. Being listed on Nasdaq simply says that you’re publicly traded. There isn’t any considerable profit from having your title on the record,” Hughes opined.
