NEWS & NOTES

The Virginia Lottery Board recently unanimously approved proposed permanent casino regulations. Now they will be reviewed and approved by Virginia Governor Ralph Northam, followed by a 60-day public comment period. Then the lottery board will give final approval in May 2022. Now developers of proposed casinos in Bristol, Norfolk, Danville and Portsmouth may apply for official casino licensing. Lottery officials said 22 licensing investigators have been retained to thoroughly vet the applications. That process Is likely to take up to a year. Hard Rock Bristol already summitted its application and now is getting its contractors, subs and consultants licensed, as required by state law. Once the lottery board gives its approval, Hard Rock Bristol is planning to open a temporary facility at the former Bristol Mall while building the main casino. Hard Rock Casino released a statement, noting, “We remain committed to opening the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Bristol as soon as possible. We will be ready to move forward as soon as we receive all the required approvals from the Virginia Lottery. We are actively engaged in ongoing local efforts to prepare for opening a resort that will bring thousands of new jobs and millions of dollars in additional tax revenue to Bristol.” • Development work on South Korea’s Midan City Resort Complex could resume by October amid reports that its owner, Chinese construction firm Guangzhou R&F Properties Co., has secured US$16.5 million in foreign investment. According to local media outlets, the cash injection will almost certainly be applied to kick-starting development after all work on Midan City, formerly led by Caesars Entertainment, was halted in February 2020 due to a funding shortfall. Caesars subsequently sold its 50 percent stake to Guangzhou R&F early this year.