Petersburg casino plan prevented
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Virginia State Senate's General Law and Technology Sub-Committee voted by a margin of 9-to-7 to kill off a measure that would have allowed the city of Petersburg to hold a referendum on whether to host a Las Vegas-style casino resort. The Democratic sponsor of the measure is 'thunderstruck' by the result and plans to discuss the proposal with members of his own political party before reviving his campaign at a later date.
Voters in Petersburg, Virginia, rejected the proposed $600 million One Casino and Resort in November.
Richmond City Council passed a measure to put the casino question before the community's voters again in November. Proponents of the legislation say the finished One Casino and Resort would create in the region of 1,500 full-time jobs and generate up to $30 million in additional annual tax revenues.
Morrissey represents the area around Petersburg, which lies some 24 miles south of Richmond. He believes a gambling-friendly establishment in his district would help to revitalize the entire region and provide economic opportunity for its population of approximately 33,000 people.
Virginia lawmakers passed legislation in April 2020 that gave Richmond, Norfolk, Danville, Bristol and Portsmouth permission to host large casino resorts. The residents of the latter four communities voted against the proposal by a narrow margin.
Danville is planning to open its $500 million Caesars Virginia development before the start of 2024. Hard Rock International could premiere its Hardrock Hotel and Casino Bristol around the same time. Portsmouth may debut the $300 million Rivers Casino Portsmouth in about two years' time, Norfolk is anticipating an early-2023 launch for its HeadWaters Resort and casino. Petersburg's plan to build a $1.5 billion casino was prevented.
