It’s a turbulent interval for the Virginia casinos. The excellent news is that voters in Richmond will be capable to vote as soon as once more on a referendum later this yr, which was selected Thursday. The outcomes had been 10-6 in favor of the referendum.
Nonetheless, issues aren’t so nice for voters in Petersburg. They received’t have an opportunity to vote for the on line casino approval, which has been deliberate for the autumn.
The invoice is declined:
The Virginia State Senate’s Finance and Appropriations Committee determined towards the invoice that the Home of Delegates positioned, so the referendum received’t be held. Additionally, they wished to forestall a referendum in Richmond, however the legal guidelines assist it, so the referendum will more than likely be held.
Final yr, the referendum in Richmond was blocked. The state ordered a research performed by the Joint Legislative Audit and Evaluation Fee (JLARC), after which it was discovered that each cities may assist the on line casino openings.
Nearly all of Petersburg officers supported the invoice. It wasn’t sudden for the reason that Petersburg Metropolis Council made a take care of The Cordish Cos in October. The Council and the industrial actual property firm from Baltimore wished to open a Stay! On line casino & Lodge resort. Cordish deliberate to spend about $1.4 billion on a brand new on line casino with a lodge and parking storage. Many extra entertainments had been deliberate to be positioned on the 90-acre property as properly. It will significantly affect the state’s economic system for the reason that on line casino, and its surrounding space could produce about 1,800 direct jobs for the residents.
Nonetheless, an organization from Maryland gave up on the thought, saying that they wished to construct a on line casino provided that it may very well be in-built each Petersburg and Richmond.
Cordish continues to struggle:
Cordish nonetheless desires to proceed – the corporate is attempting to proceed negotiations within the state legislature. The plan is to regulate the budgets it will get from the Home and the Senate, which may result in Petersburg’s referendum.
Chief Working Officer at Cordish, Zed Smith, stated: “Our $1.4 billion city revitalization mission can be transformational for Petersburg, with 4,000 new jobs and hundreds of thousands of {dollars} in extra native and state tax income. Because the Normal Meeting continues its deliberations, we hope the state’s elected leaders will discover each avenue to assist present this main financial improvement enhance to Petersburg.”
Nonetheless, in Richmond, the invoice isn’t supported. The legislation prescribes just one on line casino constructing in 5 areas: Bristol, Danville, Norfolk, Portsmouth, and Richmond. The legislation was handed when industrial casinos had been legalized three years in the past.
What determined in favor of the invoice was that Cordish would pay a wage required by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Louise Lucas, one of many best supporters of on line casino legalization, stated: “Once we began down this path, all of us agreed that we are going to be extra methodical about the way in which we go about establishing casinos within the commonwealth of Virginia.”
