To the surprise of no one, voters in Richmond, Virginia will have a second opportunity in November to vote for the casino they narrowly rejected in 2021, following approval from the Virginia Lottery and the Richmond Circuit Court. Meanwhile, Norfolk officials continue to seek an agreement with the Pamunkey Indian Nation over the tribe’s scaled-back casino proposal, after the tribe pulled casino plans it was going to present to a review board.
In a statement, Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney noted the proposed casino resort would provide 1,300 jobs and $30 million in annual revenue to the city. “Richmond is experiencing record development and growth, and, with the addition of a destination resort, we will change the economic trajectory of South Side for years to come,” he said.
Urban One Chief Executive Officer Alfred Liggins added, “We are ready to elevate our 20-year-plus relationship with Richmonders by presenting opportunities for real economic impact. We are proud of the service we continue to provide through various community and business partnerships and are talking to local leaders and citizens about the kinds of entertainment options, jobs and community benefits they want to see included in this project.”
The Richmond City Council in June selected RVA Entertainment Holdings LLC, a joint venture between Urban One Inc. and Churchill Downs Inc., as the city’s preferred operator for the proposed $562.5 million ONE Casino + Resort to be built in South Richmond near Interstate 95, providing the November referendum passes.
In addition, if voters approve the measure, the developers will pay the city $25.5 million plus a $1 million bonus upon the closing of financing for the project.
Because the previous referendum failed by only 1,200 votes, casino supporters have sought a second vote, citing a loophole in state law that did not prohibit a second referendum if the first failed. State Senator Joe Morrissey tried unsuccessfully to arrange a casino referendum in Petersburg and prevent a second Richmond vote. He also lost the Democratic primary in June to keep his Senate seat.
Most of the details about the casino resort are the same as two years ago, except Churchill Downs, owner of Churchill Downs racetrack in Louisville, Kentucky, bought the original development partner, Peninsula Pacific Entertainment, for $2.75 billion last fall. Another difference is the use of the word “casino” has been minimized in favor of the project’s entertainment options, community involvement and economic impact.
In Norfolk, city officials and Pamunkey Indian Tribe leaders recently held a “productive” meeting to discuss the stalled HeadWaters Resort & Casino. Earlier, the tribe and their development partners pulled an application they were set to present to the city’s Architectural Review Board, in order “to get clarity from the city on its proposed path to acquire the land and begin construction on the resort as soon as possible,” according to a release.
Originally the tribe had presented a development plan for a $500 million casino resort. But more recently, developers submitted updated plans for a $150 million casino and parking garage to be built in two phases. However, Norfolk Mayor Kenneth Alexander said the deal the city and the tribe signed in 2020 does not permit that.
Per local outlet WTKR, Alexander said, “We’re not going to settle for anything less than the original plan and we just want to make sure they understand that. We intend to adhere to what the voters were told as it relates to what we’re going to get. If there is something that is keeping them from adhering to the agreement, that’s something the council would have to amend.”
According to a statement issued after the meeting, “Both sides remain fully committed to building a first-class destination resort and casino along the Elizabeth River and will work diligently together in the weeks ahead to lay out a plan and schedule to develop the project as quickly as possible.”
Pamunkey Indian Tribe Chief Robert Gray said, “The tribe has not wavered in its commitment to deliver on our promise to the citizens of Norfolk to construct a resort and casino of which the tribe, the city and their citizens can be proud. Despite changes of direction and the city’s desire to reduce the land we have available to build on, we intend to follow through on this pledge to build a $500 million resort and casino featuring a high-end 300-room hotel and other amenities.”
Norfolk voters approved casino gambling in a 2020 referendum but since then two plans to open a temporary casino have been scrapped.
