Pamunkey Tribe Ramps Up Efforts To Solidify Future Casinos In Two Virginia Cities

When it comes to casinos in Virginia, things are getting serious.

The Pamunkey tribe has acquired ownership of the prospective site for their future casino in Richmond. Simultaneously, the efforts to establish casinos in Danville, Norfolk, and Portsmouth are gaining more urgency.

Although residents in those cities will have the opportunity to vote on whether to permit casinos in their vicinity this autumn, it appears that the citizens of the state capital will have to be patient until the following year. In the event that the referendum in Richmond also proves unsuccessful, the tribe has a contingency plan in place.

Where a Pamunkey tribal casino in Richmond may lie

The 12.4-acre plot of land on Gordon Avenue in Manchester is no longer available for sale in the Richmond area, even with a budget of $4 million. The tribe has recently removed it from the market.

The signs are clear. The tribe disclosed their intentions of constructing a $350 million casino and hotel in Manchester several months in advance.

However, the decision of whether the land will be used as a casino site is not solely in the hands of the Pamunkey. Instead, it will be determined by the city’s population as a whole through a public referendum.

At present, the timing of this event is unclear. It appears unlikely to occur in November, though. The earliest feasible option would be a citywide election in the autumn of next year.

If voters give their approval, the tribe’s efforts will assist in expediting the process further. However, the Pamunkey is not only active in Richmond, but also in other locations.

Tribe pushing for voter approval this fall in Norfolk

The tribe intends to construct a casino resort near Harbor Park in Norfolk, similar to their plans in Richmond. However, like in Richmond, the tribe is required to obtain voter approval in order to move forward. Nonetheless, the residents of Norfolk will have the opportunity to make that decision at an earlier date.

In November, voters will find a question on their ballots, and the tribe is currently making extensive efforts to maximize the number of “yes” votes.

The tribe has supported a political action committee, a nonprofit organization that advocates for specific causes, in addition to providing funding for a website that presents arguments in favor of the casino project.

The people of Norfolk can anticipate a flood of advertisements coming from the PAC, which will encompass various platforms such as local radio, television, social media, and direct mail campaigns.

However, the media barrage won’t be exclusive to Norfolk residents, as Bristol, Virginia is already experiencing a similar situation. A casino development-backed advocacy group is also striving to influence the vote in favor of the casino in Bristol.

Moreover, the residents of Danville and Portsmouth can anticipate a similar occurrence in the near future. The campaign known as “Vote Yes Portsmouth,” backed by a substantial sum of $100,000 provided by Rush Street Gaming, is vigorously engaged in promoting this cause. Rush Street Gaming happens to be the prospective casino developer in Portsmouth.

Caesars Entertainment currently holds that position in Danville, California. The city has recently finalized its ballot measure for this November, indicating that it won’t be long before Caesars begins seeking support from residents through petitioning.

In the event of the ballot measures’ failure in Danville, Norfolk, and Portsmouth, the developers will face a loss of all their invested resources. Nevertheless, the same outcome might not apply to Richmond.

The Pamunkey’s ‘Plan B’ for a Richmond casino

In the event that voters in Richmond reject the proposal, the tribe plans to implement an alternative method to establish a tribal casino in the area. However, this alternative path is considerably more intricate.

A multitude of tribal casinos throughout the nation are located on sovereign land, which has been designated as a reservation for the tribes operating them by the US Department of the Interior. The tribes engage in negotiations with the federal government and local/state authorities to establish gaming compacts before commencing operations.

The Pamunkey would pursue the precise course of action in utilizing the territory they have obtained in the Richmond vicinity. Their initial move would involve petitioning the Interior Department to establish the trust and designate the land.

While it may be a lengthy and potentially challenging journey, if the Richmond referendum fails, it would undoubtedly be the tribe’s most favorable course of action. Rest assured, the Pamunkey tribe is not simply idly waiting for positive outcomes in Norfolk or Richmond.