West Virginia Sen. Eric Nelson (R-Kanawha) wasn’t deterred by his unsuccessful legislative efforts in 2019, or once more final 12 months, to increase gaming by creating so-called satellite tv for pc casinos. Nelson is again at it once more in 2023, and there may be as soon as once more an urge for food in Charleston for his gaming invoice.
The inside of the Charleston City Heart has seen higher days. A West Virginia state Senator needs to permit casinos to open ancillary gaming places in deteriorating procuring complexes. (Picture: Twitter)
Nelson needs to permit the state’s racetrack casinos — Hollywood On line casino at Charles City Races, Mardi Gras On line casino and Resort, Mountaineer On line casino Racetrack and Resort, and Wheeling Island Lodge On line casino Racetrack — to open smaller casinos.
Nelson’s laws would allow the casinos to open a secondary location if the property is throughout the bigger on line casino’s host county. Voters would have the ultimate say, as a countywide native referendum can be held ought to county, and on line casino officers decide a satellite tv for pc on line casino plan.
Nelson designed the laws to revive struggling retail procuring facilities which have misplaced many tenants in current a long time. COVID-19 solely worsened industrial constructing occupancy charges in West Virginia.
“It’s similar to a invoice that was launched within the Home in 2019 and launched right here final 12 months,” Nelson informed his Senate colleagues earlier than the vote yesterday.
Satellite tv for pc Casinos Answer
Satellite tv for pc casinos, typically known as “mini-casinos,” have been utilized in different states to revitalize malls and different vacant buildings, one notable being Pennsylvania.
Nelson launched Senate Invoice 62 in January. After passing the Senate Authorities Group Committee, the satellite tv for pc on line casino invoice moved to the Senate flooring, which simply handed with a 25-8 vote.
Nelson served within the Home of Delegates — interchangeably known as the Common Meeting — from January 2013 till changing into a state Senator in December 2020.
Historical past Repeats
Nelson’s satellite tv for pc on line casino invoice throughout the West Virginia Legislature’s 2022 session was numbered SB100. Coincidentally, On line casino.org a 12 months in the past right this moment wrote in regards to the state Senate passing Nelson’s mini-casino statute.
Final 12 months’s invoice garnered much less assist, with solely 23 state Senators backing the thought of extra casinos. Republicans, who’ve lengthy managed the chamber, picked up a seat throughout final November’s election.
The GOP holds 31 of the Senate’s 34 seats, with eight of these Republicans inaugurated in January. Of the brand new Senate members, seven of the eight voted in favor of SB62. Sen. Vince Deeds (R-Fayette) was the lone opponent of the brand new Republican class.
Deeds’ district encompasses Greenbrier County, the place the historic Greenbrier resort is situated. The Greenbrier is house to West Virginia’s fifth and solely different industrial on line casino. However for the reason that On line casino Membership at The Greenbrier isn’t at a racetrack, the luxurious resort wouldn’t qualify to think about a satellite tv for pc gaming location.
Home Odds
Nelson’s on line casino enlargement statute now heads to the Common Meeting for continued consideration. SB62 hasn’t but been assigned to a committee within the decrease chamber.
Final 12 months, Nelson’s mini-casino invoice stalled after being directed to the Meeting’s Judiciary Committee. After that committee didn’t act on the measure, the invoice was moved to the Meeting Finance Committee. That committee additionally didn’t vote on the statute. The West Virginia Legislature adjourned on March 12 with out additional motion on SB100.
The Judiciary Committee stays chaired by Del. Moore Capito (R-Kanawha), however the Finance Committee has a brand new chief in Del. Vernon Criss (R-Wooden). Criss changed Meeting Majority Chief Eric Householder (R-Berkley) in December.
The West Virginia Legislature’s 2023 session runs by means of March 11.
