The state of Virginia legalised casinos in 2020 when the General Assembly allowed casinos to be built in cities if residents supported the idea.
So far, residents in four cities have voted in favour of casinos; Bristol, Danville, Norfolk and Portsmouth.
The temporary Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Bristol was the state’s first casino to open, on 8 July 2022, with the Rivers Casino Portsmouth opening on 23 January 2023.
The remaining two casinos, Caesars Virginia in Danville and HeadWaters Resort & Casino in Norfolk are set to open in 2024.
For February 2023, gaming revenue from Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Bristol and Rivers Casino Portsmouth reached $38.4m.
Slots accounted for $28.3m in revenue, and $10m from table games. Almost $7m was paid in taxes to the Gaming Proceeds Fund.
However, the Virginia Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee voted against plans to build a casino in Petersburg.
The House Bill 1373 would’ve allowed residents to decide whether they wanted the casino or not.
The $1.4bn casino resort was planned by The Cordish Companies, a real estate development company represented by the Live! Casino brand.
Kim Taylor, the delegate who proposed House Bill 1373, said: “This is a devastating setback for the people of Petersburg and the democratic process. The people of Petersburg deserve better.
“They should have the right to determine the economic future of their community independent of Richmond.”
In November 2022, Richmond residents rejected Urban One´s $565m casino plan.
