Casino In Petersburg Gets VA House Approval, But Narrow Votes Signal Trouble

Could Petersburg be the next city in Virginia to join Portsmouth and Norfolk in hosting a casino, with the presence of casino projects already established along the Elizabeth River?

About 100 miles inland, in the area where Richmond and Petersburg supporters are located, there is still considerable uncertainty surrounding the establishment of separate Virginia casino plans.

On Tuesday, a House bill advocating for Petersburg to be recognized as a city eligible for casinos was passed with a 49-44 vote at the Virginia State Capitol. However, the bill now awaits the lukewarm response of the Virginia Senate.

In that state, legislators utilize economic data to regulate the allocation of casinos throughout the region. Subsequently, citizens hold the power to determine if their city meets the criteria to become a designated casino destination within Virginia.

• Portsmouth and Norfolk were brought up in our discussion.
• Bristol, Danville, and Richmond have all been granted initial approval to present their casino proposals to the voters.

The project was rejected only by the voters of Richmond. Now, Petersburg intends to replace the capital city on the state’s list of potential casino sites.

The current legislative session holds some intrigue due to the close proximity between the cities. With only 25 miles separating them, Petersburg aims to secure its first opportunity before Richmond gets another chance at establishing a casino.

On November 7, 2024, bills were presented in both the Virginia Senate and House of Delegates, proposing the authorization of a Petersburg casino vote.

A successful outcome for Petersburg would also result in the prevention of a second casino vote in the city of Richmond, as per the current edition of House Bill 1373.

Some possible cracks in Petersburg casino plans

In our previous discussion, we highlighted the collaboration between the Virginia House and Senate regarding bills. Currently, only the House version of the bill pertaining to Petersburg (not Richmond) remains active. Unfortunately, the Senate version, known as SB 780, did not survive due to a committee vote on Thursday night, where it was defeated by a close margin of 9-8.

HB 1373 is the pathway for Petersburg to conduct a casino vote. In order to reach the floor vote on Tuesday, HB 1373 narrowly passed the House budget committee with a vote of 11-9.

There is still a possibility for the bill to be amended in the Virginia Senate.

The Virginia General Assembly appears to be equally divided on the plan, as indicated by the committee votes of 11-9 in the House and 9-8 in the Senate, as well as the House of Delegates vote of 49-44.

What’s ahead for the Petersburg casino bill

A Feb. 3 article by Michael Martz from the Richmond Times-Dispatch provides valuable insights into the committee discussions that are worth your attention.

According to his report, Del. Mark Sickles of Fairfax was the sole Democrat who voted in favor of HB 1373 during the committee session. Sickles advocated for further deliberation on the House floor.

Del. Delores McQuinn, a fellow Democrat, is not against the idea of a casino in Petersburg. However, she believes that the support for the casino should not come at the detriment of Richmond.

By crafting it in this manner, it has the potential to harm one area while attempting to uplift another.

One more look at the proposals

With the casino placement bill now under the control of the Senate, it has the potential to become a valuable bargaining tool during budget negotiations. The implications are significant for both cities involved.

The Richmond casino

On November 2, 2021, Richmond was unable to align state approval with local support. The city’s casino project did not garner enough votes to proceed with construction.

The margin in 2021 was extremely slim, to the extent that the city could present a valid case for a second opportunity.

• No — 40,243 (50.95%)
• Yes — 38,750 (49.05%)
• Difference — 1,439 votes

Richmond is no longer obligated to its original $563 million agreement with Urban One due to the significant passage of time. Nevertheless, both parties have invested a substantial amount of time together.

One Casino + Resort has plans to provide 100,000 square feet of gaming space if HB 1373 is rejected by lawmakers and another vote is permitted, and if the city decides to continue its association with Urban One.

• There are over 1,800 slot machines available.
• Over 100 table games
• A poker room
• And a high-tech sportsbook

The plans for One Resort + Casino included 15 unique restaurants and bars for guests to enjoy. Those staying at the resort would be accommodated in the Legacy Tower, which boasted 250 hotel rooms offering scenic views of the city.

Developers designed Rise Theater with the inclusion of a business center, fitness room, and an expansive 55-acre green space. The aim was to accommodate over 250,000 guests for 200 live shows.

The south Richmond site near the Philip Morris manufacturing center and I-95 will be operated by Peninsula Pacific Entertainment.

The Petersburg casino

Petersburg envisions a significantly expansive urban development plan. At the intersection of Wagner Road and I-95, the Cordish Companies’ Live! Casino & Hotel Virginia would act as a centerpiece to a sprawling concept spanning over 4 million square feet.

• 1,300 residential units
• There is a total of 600,000 square feet dedicated to retail, dining, and entertainment.
• and 500 hotel rooms.

Live! Casino & Hotel Virginia will provide:

• There are over 670,000 square feet dedicated to gaming, hotel accommodations, dining options, and entertainment facilities.
• a fitness center and a resort pool
• There are more than 2,000 slots and electronic table games.
• There is a total of 60 table games available, which includes poker.
• Sportsbook
• A multipurpose venue catering to entertainment, business meetings, and conventions.
• There are more than twelve dining and entertainment choices available.
• Free surface parking

According to a recent state study, it is indicated that both casinos have the potential to thrive in the area. However, for this to happen, both cities would need to reduce the scale of their respective plans. Unfortunately, Cordish is not inclined to make such adjustments.