Churchill’s Virginia HHR Venue Could Require Referendum
On Feb. 22, the Virginia General Assembly approved a budget plan with a measure that would require a public referendum for any gambling facility projects. It will now head to Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s desk. The new measure could impact a historical horse racing (HHR) venue currently being constructed in Henrico County by Churchill Downs (CDI).
CDI filed its building permit last June, and at that time it was allowed to operate up to 175 HHR machines until midnight without needing to attend public meetings. But new zoning amendments were enacted shortly after that changed those requirements, and local residents and officials have accused CDI of trying to circumvent the process.
The company gave a statement to WRIC: “These measures send a deeply troubling message to every Virginia business that they may face arbitrary punishment even if they adhere to regulations and follow the law. Virginia’s reputation as a business-friendly state is based on the belief that the Commonwealth keeps its word and governs in a thoughtful, transparent manner.
“These provisions seriously undermine any businesses’ ability to make long term investment and hiring decisions knowing that the rules could change on a whim.”
Jackson Casino Bill Killed Before House Vote
A bill that would have allowed one existing Mississippi casino licensee the opportunity to develop a casino in Jackson with a minimum investment of $500 million was tabled Feb. 26, killing its hopes for this session.
According to Mississippi Today, House Bill 1879 was tabled by Ways and Means Chairman Trey Lamar moments before it was set to go to a full House vote.
“We didn’t have the votes,” Lamar told the outlet. “We felt like it was worth a conversation. Last year it got brought up in committee and didn’t get brought out of committee. This year it made it out of committee and got brought out to the floor,” Lamar said. “Anytime private investors are willing to invest hundreds of millions in downtown Jackson, we think that’s worthy of a conversation. That’s what happened today.”
New Bill Would Prohibit Gambling Ads at CT Colleges
A new bill has been introduced in Connecticut—House Bill 5271—that, if passed, would ban gambling advertising on public college campuses in the state. Proponents argue that such a move would help curb problem gambling, especially among college students and those under the legal gambling age.
“College students, especially males, are really prone to abusing gambling when it comes to sports betting and casinos,” said Paul Tarbox of the Connecticut Council on Problem Gambling, per CT News Junkie. “Expanding the bill to include restrictions on certain displays on campus-wide internet or communication systems just makes sense from a safety standpoint.”
Mississippi Casino Tax Increase Heads to House Floor
In Mississippi, a bill that would increase the casino gaming tax rate from 12 percent to 16 percent advanced out of the state’s House Ways and Means Committee Feb. 25 and now heads to the full House. The bill is said to be a direct response to lawmakers’ refusal to pass online sports betting this session, and looks to recoup that lost income with the additional tax revenue.
“The goal post continues to be moved on the other end of the building (the Senate),” said committee Chairman Trey Lamar, per Mississippi Today. “We’re going to tax it appropriately. There needs to be some further light shed on this topic … (Illegal online gambling) has reached pandemic level … It’s my understanding that a small handful of casinos are standing in the way of that legislation. “
New Member Added to NY State Gaming Facility Location Board
The New York State Gaming Commission Feb. 24 appointed Vice President and General Counsel at Pace University Teryl Brown to the Gaming Facility Location Board. That group will determine which three locations and bids will be awarded licenses for New York’s three downstate casinos.
The appointment is the third in a month. Brown replaces Carlos P. Naudon. The commission unanimously voted Brown onto the board.
“The Gaming Facility Location Board’s work can be transformational for the State of New York,” Commission Chair Brian O’Dwyer said via press release. “Ms. Brown brings a wealth of experience, expertise and public service to the team that will evaluate casino proposals. I thank her and the entire Board for its ongoing work and service to New York State.”
Brown has spent much of her career as a New York public servant, including as Acting Counsel to former Gov. David Paterson and First Assistant Counsel to former Gov. Eliot Spitzer.
Boyd: Construction Underway at Jokers Wild Site
Boyd Gaming announced Feb. 24 that it has begun preliminary work on construction for the Cadence Crossing Casino project that will eventually replace Jokers Wild in Henderson, Nev. A formal groundbreaking ceremony is planned for April 3, and the new property is expected to be completed sometime in mid-2026.
“As our Company marks our 50th year serving the Las Vegas Valley, we are excited to begin our latest investment in the southern Nevada community,” Boyd President and CEO Keith Smith said in a statement.
El Cortez Unveils New Expansion
The El Cortez Hotel & Casino in downtown Las Vegas Feb. 20 unveiled a $20 million expansion that included two new bars, an expanded table games area, a new high-limit slot area and a new restaurant. Among the festivities of the opening was a mayoral proclamation of Feb. 20 as El Cortez Hotel & Casino Day” in Las Vegas.
“I feel great,” CEO Kenny Epstein told the Las Vegas Review-Journal. “I feel great because people like it. If they didn’t like it, then I’d be worried. But everybody likes it, and people are happy.”
April Court Date Set for Cedar Rapids Casino Lawsuit
According to a Feb. 24 report from Iowa News Now, a court hearing for the Cedar Rapids casino license lawsuit is set for 9:30 a.m. April 8. The suit, filed by Riverside Casino and the Washington County Riverboat Foundation, alleges that the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission did not have legal standing to award the Cedar Rapids license Feb. 6. Developers Peninsula Pacific Entertainment and the Linn County Gaming Association were granted the license to operate the $275 million Cedar Crossing Casino and Entertainment Center after previously being denied in 2017 and 2014.
IGSA Announces Board for 2025
The International Gaming Standards Association (IGSA) Feb. 24 announced its board of directors for 2025, as follows:
Chair: Nimish Purohit, Aristocrat
Vice Chair: Martin Pedak, Playtech
Board Member: Spencer Peterson, Konami Gaming
Board Member: Syed Hussain, Oregon Lottery
Board Member: John McCaffrey, Umpqua Indian Development Corporation
“IGSA had a very successful 2024, and our new restructured membership has been met with a great deal of positive feedback,” IGSA President Mark Pace said in a statement. “The 2025 membership continues to expand, representing the breadth of the gaming industry.”
