Voter referendums on new casinos in Bristol, Portsmouth and Danville, Virginia are increasingly likely to appear on the November 3 ballot as the Virginia Lottery Board and local governments move forward on the issue. The state legislature previously approved a bill allowing casinos in those three cities, as well as in Richmond and Norfolk, depending on the outcome of citizens’ votes. Casino developers must invest at least $300 million in each project. Analysts have predicted the five new casinos would bring in more than $1 billion in total revenue to the state.
In Bristol, the city council unanimously approved a resolution allowing a referendum that would let voters approve a casino at the former Bristol Mall—the Hard Rock Bristol. City council members previously approved a resolution naming HR Bristol LLC as the preferred casino operator. Next, the city attorney will file a petition in Bristol Virginia Circuit Court to permit the referendum.
The ballot language reads: “Shall casino gaming be permitted at a casino gaming establishment in the City of Bristol, Virginia at 500 Gate City Highway, Bristol, Virginia 24201 (former Bristol Mall) as may be approved by the Virginia Lottery Board?”
In Portsmouth, the city council announced the Virginia Lottery Board pre-certified its preferred gaming partner, Rush Street Gaming of Chicago, to operate Rivers Casino Portsmouth, which is forecast to generate $16.3 million in annual tax revenue for the city and $260 million in annual regional gross domestic product. According to the Portsmouth Economic Development office, the casino will create 1,300 construction jobs and 1,400 permanent jobs.
Portsmouth Economic Development Director Robert D. Moore said, “Pre-certification by the Virginia Lottery Board is a vote of confidence by the commonwealth’s experts on our choice of preferred partner, and we could not be more excited for the Rush Street team to begin their work getting to know Portsmouth voters. It is important for the citizens of Portsmouth to be involved in the process as we head towards November, and that they understand the full scope of the Entertainment District. We are ready for this next step.”
Rush Street Gaming Senior Vice President of Development Jacob Oberman added, “We are grateful for the Lottery Board’s diligence on this matter and for Virginia’s openness to a long-term partnership with our organization. Moving forward with the referendum is a positive step for Portsmouth and for the commonwealth. We’re excited to bring new jobs, opportunities for local businesses and increased tax revenue to benefit the entire community.”
The Virginia Lottery also pre-certified the proposed Danville casino. Next, at its August 4 meeting, the city council will consider a resolution to pursue putting casino issue on the November 3 ballot. A Danville Circuit Court Judge must sign the order for a writ of special election by August 14 for the question to be placed on the ballot. The casino would be operated by Caesars Entertainment.
City Manager Ken Larking stated, “It’s certainly good news. We’re glad Caesars was able to pull together the necessary information and show the state that they are capable of developing a high quality project in our community.”
Hall stressed that pre-certification does not assure a city’s preferred casino gaming operator will be approved for a license. That’s a separate process that will occur if voters pass the casino referendum. Hall said, “Pre-certification simply allows this process to continue moving toward a vote by residents of each city. Our significantly more in-depth financial vet and suitability review of each city’s chosen casino partner will come later, after a successful referendum and as part of the license application and review process.”
That process is likely to begin after the Lottery Board approves emergency casino regulations in April 2021 and then opens the application process.
The $400 million Danville casino would be located at the Schoolfield site. Caesars officials said the project would create 1,300 jobs with competitive benefits and produce $34 million in annual revenue for the city. Caesars’ proposal also includes $20 million in minimum upfront payments to the city to cover land acquisition and other public investments.
The casino resort would offer 2,000 slots, 75 table games, 16 poker tables and a sportsbook, plus a 500-room hotel, 35,000-square-foot conference center, 2,500-seat live entertainment venue, restaurants and bars.
