By
Jane Shaw
Senior Editor Updated: 11/25/2024
We count on Jane to inform our readers about the latest slot games in the US market. With her passion for video games and a degree in engineering, she’s our gambling tech expert. Jane’s also active in our blog section, where she tackles the curiosities and changes in the industry.
Petersburg Citizens Approve Casino
On the 5th of November, citizens of Petersburg, Virginia, voted to construct a land-based casino. This decision comes after years of Petersburg attempting to gain a casino license, culminating in a referendum where 81.5% of voters approved the proposal. That makes Petersburg the fifth city in the state with a land-based casino.
However, the road to this project was met with many obstacles and changes to the proposal. Our team of experts has researched the topic to learn more about the history of this casino and the referendum. You can even learn about some of the state’s recent laws.
Virginia is no stranger to implementing new gambling laws through referendums. In 1987 and 1988, citizens approved the legalization of a state lottery and pari-mutuel horse betting, with all proceeds from the Virginia Lottery being used to fund K-12 public education. Charities could also host electronic pull tabs and network bingo was legalized in 2013.
However, the most significant change occurred in 2020, when the General Assembly legalized online sports betting and casinos. Five locations would be allowed to open land-based casinos, with the Virginia Lottery as the primary gambling authority. Petersburg would become one of these locales, although it wasn’t initially considered part of the plan.
Launching the project was not without issues, especially since Petersburg wasn’t one of the initial locations planned for a casino. After Richmond rejected the construction of a casino, Petersburg could finally hold its referendum. It had also selected the Cordish Companies as an operator beforehand through a controversial no-bid selection.
Fortunately, the city council and Virginia Lottery approved Petersburg’s request for a referendum in July. It received overwhelming approval, with 81.5% of voters agreeing to the casino. Richmond’s rejection makes Petersburg the fifth city to approve a land-based casino in its area. Now, the Cordish Companies can begin planning the construction.
The Cordish Companies will build a $597 million casino, with a hotel and entertainment complex, using their Live! brand. It will be 92 acres in south Petersburg, next to the intersection of Wagner Road and Interstate I-95. It will create 7,500 new jobs and $2.8 billion in economic benefits for the city.
We are incredibly proud to join Bruce Smith and his team to present our vision for a transformational, world-class destination in Petersburg.
Zed Smith, Cordish Companies COO
Current plans include a 200-room hotel, 1,600 slots, and 61 table games. It will also have a poker room with 15 tables and eight dining options. Finally, there are plans for an event center, resort pool, and even a sportsbook. The casino will be built in two phases, starting in 2026.
Aside from Petersburg, there are four other casinos available. Norfolk is another city that recently restarted construction on its casino after the project was abandoned in 2020. Meanwhile, Danville, Bristol, and Portsmouth already have casinos, and Danville also has a World Series of Poker room. We hope more casinos will become available in the future.
Meanwhile, the state is also preparing legislation to regulate the industry better. While the original laws were sufficient for charity gambling, more regulations will be necessary for casinos and sportsbooks. There are also plans to improve responsible gambling laws further, so we will keep you updated with future changes.
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