‘Bally’s for RVA’: What’s In The $650M Bally’s Richmond Casino Resort Proposal

Bally’s Corporation has launched its “Bally’s For RVA” campaign to raise awareness for its Richmond casino proposal.

Company officials recently announced the campaign, which will also use the #BallysForRVA hashtag throughout social media.

Bally’s is one of six known groups that are vying to construct a potential Richmond casino. Voters in the Virginia capital city will determine the fate of the project with a casino referendum on Election Day in November.

The highlight of the Bally’s proposal? The veteran US gaming operator would construct a $650 million world-class resort, hotel, and casino. It would be called the Bally’s Richmond Casino Resort.

Bally’s For RVA facts and figures

BallysRichmond.com serves as the home for the Bally’s For RVA campaign. However, the company has also launched some dedicated social-media accounts, including Twitter and Facebook.

There’s also a lengthy video on its YouTube page:

Here are the key facts and figures for Bally’s Richmond Casino Resort, which would cost nearly two-thirds of a billion dollars to build:

• A $100 million upfront payment to the City of Richmond
• 2,000 full-time jobs, as well as 4,300 temporary construction jobs
• Nearly 300 jobs created through Bally’s “Richmond Rewards” local-business program
• 3.7 million annual visitors and $30 million in annual economic activity and spending
• $5.3 billion in economic value generated over a 10-year period

Bally’s Richmond casino would be constructed on 61 acres in the western part of the city. The site is located at the intersection of Powhite Parkway and Chippenham Parkway.

Heavy competition with Richmond casino proposals

Richmond has no shortage of suitors as it looks to join Bristol, Danville, Norfolk, and Portsmouth. Those four Virginia cities all approved casinos in 2020, and the projects are already underway.

If Richmond voters continue the trend and vote overwhelmingly in favor of the casino, the City of Richmond will need a partner.

The current list of hopefuls includes:

• Bally’s Corporation
• The Cordish Cos.
• Pamunkey Indian Tribe
• Urban One and Colonial Downs
• Wind Creek Hospitality
• Golden Nugget Hotels & Casinos

There are some casino-gaming heavyweights in that group. However, Bally’s has a lot going for it. The company owns 12 casinos and racetracks in the US. It’s also strengthened its digital presence with recent acquisitions of SportCaller, Bet.Works, and Monkey Knife Fight.

Bally’s proposal had the biggest price tag. In fact, it’s $50 million richer than the one that The Cordish Cos. submitted, which was the second-largest.

Additionally, Bally’s has touted that none of its other casino properties would present a conflict of interest. As officials point out, its nearest sister property would be a 200-mile drive away.

Bally’s has also made a commitment to work with small businesses and minority-owned companies in the Richmond area as part of the project.