The builders behind a proposed on line casino in Richmond, Va., this week unveiled up to date design plans and particulars on the mission.
An artists rendering of the proposed Richmond Grand Resort & On line casino. Builders of launched new particulars on the proposed Virginia mission this week.
Now dubbed the Richmond Grand Resort and Casino, the $562 million mission would come with a luxurious lodge and spa, in addition to an leisure venue and group park. The on line casino would characteristic desk video games, poker, slots and an on-site sportsbook.
Voters in Richmond will resolve this November whether or not to permit the mission to proceed. Metropolis leaders are supporting a second poll measure after an earlier effort fell quick in 2021, when a on line casino referendum was rejected by a two-point margin.
Supporters say the mission would create 1,300 jobs and generate $30 million in income for Richmond and be constructed with out taxpayer subsidies.
Richmond Grand is a three way partnership between City One, Inc., a Maryland-based, Black-owned leisure firm, and Churchill Downs, Inc., the Louisville-based firm well-known for organizing the annual Kentucky Derby. The on line casino plans have been “knowledgeable by tons of of conversations with Richmonders,” the builders stated in a information launch this week.
“It is a plan by Richmond, for Richmond, and once we vote sure, all of Richmond wins,” City One CEO Alfred Liggins, III, stated in an announcement.
If authorized, the brand new advanced can be in-built south Richmond, alongside I-95 close to a Philip Morris manufacturing facility.
Richmond is the final of 5 cities within the state to vote on a on line casino referendum, after the state legislature opened the door to business casinos a number of years in the past. Bristol, Danville, Norfolk, Portsmouth, and Richmond all are licensed to construct one on line casino every, so long as voters approve.
Marketing campaign Kicks Into Gear
The on line casino referendum will seem as Query 1 on Richmonders ballots this fall. Not like the vote two years in the past, there isn’t a governor’s race on the poll in November, that means turnout is prone to be decrease.
Richmond’s metropolis council voted in June to place the on line casino measure again earlier than voters, and the referendum has already survived a number of authorized twists and turns.
An area choose final week sided with the town towards an area nonprofit that sought to dam the on line casino referendum partially over issues that it could undercut charitable gaming operations. An attraction of that call is feasible, however in any other case the selection shall be as much as voters. This week additionally introduced information that the state funds won’t block the On line casino vote, according to a Richmond TV station.
The professional-casino marketing campaign is being overseen by Tierra Ward, a Richmond resident who served as native elections director for the state Democratic social gathering.
Two years in the past, on line casino supporters spent almost $2.5 million on the marketing campaign in favor of the poll measure, in line with campaign finance reports for its political committee. The group has not filed up to date marketing campaign finance stories this 12 months.
Opposition Looms
On line casino opponents are being organized by Richmond Lawyer Paul Goldman, who has established his personal political committee, No Means No On line casino, funded partially with $100,000 from the Ukrop household, who owned a preferred native chain of grocery shops.
Goldman earlier this week filed a lawsuit towards the state Board of Elections alleging that he’s being denied entry to voter information essential to run the marketing campaign.
The 2021 referendum failed by a 51-49% margin.
