The chances of Petersburg, Va., changing into host to a business on line casino have shortened. That’s after laws searching for to designate the small metropolis — roughly 25 miles south of Richmond — gained assist from one of many extra highly effective state lawmakers within the Commonwealth.
The chances of Petersburg being allotted on line casino privileges presumably improved after state Sen. Louise Lucas (D) lent her assist. Petersburg is searching for a gaming alternative after voters in close by Richmond mentioned no twice to such a undertaking. (Picture: The Virginian-Pilot)
Laws launched this week within the Normal Meeting requests to amend Virginia’s 2020 business gaming invoice that certified 5 cities for business casinos. Whereas not particularly figuring out the city, Senate Invoice 628 crafts up to date qualifying circumstances for cities to mull casinos that will solely entitle Petersburg to on line casino playing.
The laws was launched this week by state Sens. Louise Lucas (D-Portsmouth) and Lashrecse Aird (D-Petersburg).
Lucas, the “On line casino Woman” of Virginia — who fought for casinos for many years and was the first sponsor of the state’s 2020 gaming statute — opposed legislative efforts to designate Petersburg as a on line casino host. That’s after Richmond rejected a proposed on line casino in 2021. When then-state Sen. Joe Morrissey (D-Richmond) continued to battle to permit Petersburg to discipline on line casino bids final yr, she maintained her opposition.
After Richmonders final November voted in opposition to a on line casino within the capital metro for a second time, Lucas had a change of coronary heart. She additionally conceded that her sturdy opposition to Morrissey, with whom she repeatedly butted heads, performed an element in her earlier hostility to qualifying Petersburg for a on line casino.
Lucas additionally anticipated the 2023 Richmond on line casino referendum to move. However after voters there much more strongly dismissed town’s on line casino pitch than they did in 2021, Lucas believes it’s time to reallocate the gaming privilege.
Petersburg On line casino Invoice
Lucas’ Petersburg on line casino invoice comes with the assist of Aird, who defeated Morrissey in final June’s Democratic main. Virginia’s 2020 on line casino legislation mandated that solely cities assembly sure financial hardships might discipline on line casino bids. They might then ask their residents to log off on town’s chosen gaming improvement via an area poll referendum.
Norfolk, Portsmouth, Danville, Bristol, and Richmond met the legislation’s standards. Every metropolis besides Richmond subsequently held native referendums authorizing a single on line casino. Lucas and Aird’s laws seeks to amend the qualifying circumstances with new standards tailor-made towards Petersburg.
The statute would qualify any metropolis “wherein no less than 17% of the assessed worth of all actual property in such metropolis is exempt from native property taxation … had a poverty price of no less than 21% in 2019 … and that had an annual unemployment price of no less than 13% in 2020.” Petersburg satisfies all of these requirements.
Metropolis Help
Richmond chosen City One, a Black-focused media conglomerate, to develop its on line casino. That regardless of the publicly traded firm having no expertise in hospitality or gaming.
City One partnered with Peninsula Pacific Leisure, a Los Angeles-based on line casino operator, for its 2021 pitch, and Churchill Downs final yr. Richmonders defeated the undertaking every time, with whiter, extra prosperous neighborhoods being extra strongly against the undertaking. Black voters lent extra assist to the on line casino initiative.
Petersburg might need extra favorable demographics to move a on line casino referendum. Together with assist from Mayor Samuel Parham (D) and the Metropolis Council, Blacks account for greater than three in 4 metropolis residents.
Lucas and Aird’s invoice has been directed for preliminary consideration within the Senate Committee on Normal Legal guidelines and Know-how.
