Richmond court places casino referendum on ballot, setting up November vote
The Richmond, Virginia Circuit Court formally placed a referendum on the November ballot for the development of a casino resort to be operated by Urban One.
The court’s decision to OK the referendum for ballot was the last hurdle for Urban One’s ONE Casino + Resort project before it is voted on by residents.
Voters will decide whether the city should go forward with the creation of the $560m project, which proponents say would serve as an economic engine for the community.
“We thank the court for its review and order to place on the November ballot a referendum on the … project,” Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney said. “This economic development project will bring 1,300 well-paying jobs and millions in much-needed revenue to our city while continuing the revitalization of South Richmond. And as we said from the beginning, the people will have the final say.”
Richmond is one of five Virginia cities permitted to vote on the development of a casino as part of a 2020 gaming expansion bill passed by lawmakers. Voters in Bristol, Danville, Norfolk and Portsmouth have already passed casino referendums.
ONE beat out several competing projects including ones from Bally’s Corp. and The Cordish Companies. If approved, Urban One would begin construction on the casino in South Richmond. The project includes a sportsbook, 250 hotel rooms, a 3,000-seat theater, 100,000 square feet of gaming space, and more than a dozen bars and restaurants.
ONE would be the only Black-owned majority owner of a casino in the US.
“Urban One has been a member of the Richmond community for over 20 years with multiple radio properties in the market, so we know Richmond,” Urban One CEO Alfred Liggins told Gaming America. “We are always looking for ways to elevate the communities where we operate, economically, politically and socially so a project where we can create jobs, build generational wealth, and improve the overall landscape of Richmond is our kind of project.”
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