Virginia: Bill to build a casino in Petersburg advances to Governor’s desk

Both the Senate and the House voted in favor of welcoming expanded gambling.

Lawmakers in Petersburg, Virginia recently voted in favor of bringing in a new casino to the city. Legislation passed in both the House of Delegates and in the Senate.

The House voted to adopt a recent bill proposed by Senator Lashrecse Aird by a vote of 78 to 18. Soon after passing it in the House, the Senate voted to approval the bill by a vote of 24 to 16.

Aird’s bill is now on its way to Governor Glenn Youngkin’s desk.

According to local news reports, this is the second time the Senate has voted on this proposal. Lawmakers passed the bill last month. However, the House added a condition which said that the Senate would need to vote again “at a subsequent regular or special session” during the General Assembly.

During the past few years, the question of whether Petersburg would welcome a casino has been answered with a resounding no. The Senate committee struck down attempts to land a casino in Petersburg during both the 2022 and 2023 legislative session.

But Petersburg is not the only Virginia city that is now considering adding a new casino.

In recent months, the Richmond City Council introduced papers for a $562m casino resort project, which would feature a luxury hotel, 55 acres of green space and a live entertainment venue.

Partners Urban ONE and Churchill Downs Incorporated advertised the project nearly two years ago. However, city residents struck down the proposal for the casino resort by a narrow vote in November 2021.

Sarah Chen

Editor

Strong iGaming coverage is built on trust. When platforms are tested thoroughly and explained clearly, players gain the confidence they need to make informed decisions in an industry that rewards transparency.

Visit Profile

Players trust our reporting due to our commitment to unbiased and professional evaluations of the iGaming sector. We track hundreds of platforms and industry updates daily to ensure our news feed and leaderboards reflect the most recent market shifts. With nearly two decades of experience within iGaming, our team provides a wealth of expert knowledge. This long-standing expertise enables us to deliver thorough, reliable news and guidance to our readers.