Voter Majority Say Yes To Norfolk Casino

Despite encountering organized opposition, the Pamunkey Casino Resort was officially approved by Norfolk voters tonight.

As of Wednesday at 11 a.m., the casino referendum received a 65% approval from Norfolk voters.

The initial announcement of a casino in the southeastern-Virginia city was made by the Pamunkey Indian Tribe in December 2018. Interestingly, the city of Norfolk and the Pamunkey tribe had already formed a partnership even before the Virginia General Assembly legalized casino gambling in the current year.

Lawmakers have selected five financially disadvantaged cities in Virginia to hold a casino referendum. This year, referendums were held in Norfolk, Bristol, Danville, and Portsmouth, while Richmond will vote on the matter during next year’s election.

Following the successful casino referendum, the tribe is set to progress with the development of a riverfront casino and resort, estimated to cost around $500 million.

Norfolk casino vote results

The casino measure is expected to receive overwhelming support from Norfolk voters.

Given the significant number of ballots cast prior to Election Day, the overall process was relatively uncomplicated.

The question stated on Norfolk ballots was:

Should the Virginia Lottery Board approve, will casino gaming be allowed at a casino-gaming establishment located east of Harbor Park Stadium, with the property boundaries being Park Avenue to the north, the eastern branch of the Elizabeth River to the south, and Norfolk and Western Railway railroad tracks to the east, and an estimated address of 200 Park Avenue in the city of Norfolk?

Similar to the majority of the nation during this election season, a significant number of Norfolk citizens opted for early voting. In fact, approximately 43% of Norfolk’s 132,000 registered voters participated in early voting, a substantial increase compared to the mere 5.3% who voted early during the 2016 election.

Enthusiasm generated by proponents in recent months is likely to have contributed to a portion of the early voting.

Before the casino referendum was even passed, the Pamunkey tribe gained favor by announcing community initiatives. The tribe officials emphasized that one of their primary initiatives in Norfolk would be food security. In fact, they pledged $150,000 to construct a new grocery store in the St. Paul area, which had recently transformed into a “food desert” after the closure of its only supermarket earlier this year.

Furthermore, the tribe has expressed its intention to recruit 90% of its workforce from the Norfolk region while aiming for 50% representation of minority groups among its employees. In addition, it anticipates that gaming revenue will enable it to make annual contributions of $3.5 million to $4 million to the Virginia Indigenous People’s Trust Fund.

Those for and those against

The Committee for All In for Norfolk Casino, supported by the tribe’s funds, placed great emphasis on these objectives while advocating for the project.

Despite the casino facing opposition, the Informed Norfolk citizens group effectively organized a strong resistance. The grassroots movement successfully attracted significant media coverage, utilizing it to shed light on the tribe’s lack of experience in casino ventures. Additionally, the group raised concerns about Norfolk’s lack of transparency in the deal’s finalization and the tribe’s complex racial history.

About the Pamunkey Casino Resort Norfolk

Downtown Norfolk would be the location of the Pamunkey Casino Resort Norfolk, nestled along the picturesque Elizabeth River.

The latest addition to Norfolk’s thriving Waterside District will be situated on a 14-acre plot adjacent to the Harbor Park minor league baseball stadium, conveniently located less than a mile away from I-264.

In addition to various other appealing features, the Norfolk casino is anticipated to offer:

• 300-room, four-star hotel
• Casino and sportsbook
• Venue for live music and entertainment.
• There are various dining options available, such as a steakhouse, sports bar, seafood restaurant, and international cuisine establishments, in the form of bars and restaurants.
• Indoor and outdoor pools
• Spa and fitness center

Alongside the city of Norfolk, the tribe will be receiving assistance from Jon Yarbrough, a wealthy individual from Tennessee known for his expertise in casino gaming, to aid in the development of the resort.

The Pamunkeys, the initial federally recognized tribe in Virginia, have their reservation situated on ancestral land along the Pamunkey River, approximately 90 miles northeast of downtown Norfolk.

Economy, employment details for Norfolk casino

The Pamunkey Casino Resort Norfolk is anticipated to generate 2,000 temporary construction employment opportunities, according to officials. It is expected that the groundbreaking ceremony will occur in 2021. Moreover, as the casino approaches its potential opening in 2024, it plans to provide 2,500 permanent, full-time jobs.

With the casino’s establishment, it would secure the position of being Norfolk’s fourth-largest private employer. This aspect played a significant role in gaining extensive support for the project in Norfolk. Currently, the city’s economy heavily depends on military spending and transportation/ports.

The Pamunkey casino is expected to not only contribute to the hiring spree but also significantly enhance regional tourism. According to tribe officials, the resort anticipates attracting over 6 million visitors each year, with nearly 1 million of those visitors traveling from out of state.

Consequently, the tribe anticipates that the casino will generate an annual economic impact of $850 million in the Hampton Roads region.

According to officials from Pamunkey, the proposal is expected to generate $50 million in yearly casino revenue for Virginia’s K-12 education. Furthermore, it would also contribute approximately $30 million in taxes paid to Norfolk.

Next steps for Pamunkey Casino Resort Norfolk

In May, the Pamunkey Indian Tribe was granted pre-certification by the Virginia Lottery as Norfolk’s favored casino partner.

The Pamunkey Casino Resort Norfolk can now move forward following the successful referendum.

Nevertheless, before the Pamunkey tribe can formally apply for its casino-gaming license, Virginia must complete the official casino regulations. This process may take up to 12 months for the VA Lottery board to make its decision.

At present, the tribe will initiate the necessary arrangements to acquire the 14-acre riverfront location, which will be the future dwelling of the resort. It is anticipated that Norfolk will receive a sum of approximately $10 million, which is equivalent to its complete market value.

Nevertheless, the Pamunkey Indian Tribe is set to face several distinctive obstacles in the upcoming year. Among them is the competition posed by a nearby Portsmouth casino, which was approved by voters at the same time as the Norfolk casino.

Furthermore, the tribe is also the favored collaborator for a proposed Richmond casino. Nevertheless, the destiny of that project will not be decided by Richmond voters until Election Day 2021.