Virginia on Verge of Legalizing Casinos

There is legislation working its way through the Virginia General Assembly that would legalize land based casinos, possibly online casinos, land based sports betting, and online sports betting. There were nearly 20 competing gambling bills. Most of those have rolled into SB 36 which has been referred the Finance Committee. Upon its expected approval there it will go to the Senate floor where it has bipartisan support.

The bill would allow one casino gaming license in 5 cities. Bristol, Danville, Norfolk, Portsmouth, and Richmond
The bill was amended to allow "open competition" in Richmond as there are two groups that want a casino there and city officials do not want to choose between the two.

Bristol
Hard Rock has proposed a casino there. This proposal has the support of local politicians.
Eastern Cherokee/The Pinnacle have propsed a casino there as well. Legislation seems to be favoring Hard Rock currently.

Danville
No proposed operators yet.

Portsmouth
The City of Portsmouth has been pushing for a casino for years to boost their economy. Their state senator is the patron of SB 36
The city has already partnered with Rush Street Gaming and has plans for the construction of an Entertainment District and a casino.

Norfolk
The Pamunkey Tribe has announced plans for a casino resort in Norfolk. They have already signed an agreement to purchase some city land near the Elizabeth River.

Richmond
The Pamunkey Tribe announced plans for $350 million resort and casino in south Richmond. They have already purchased the land where it will be built. City Council voted in support of a casino, but has a few more questions before giving a full green light.
Colonial Down Group/Rosie's Gaming Emporium has estimated it will lose 45% of its "historic horse racing" slot-like machine revenue if a casino is allowed. They wish for a gaming license so they can compete.
I am not sure if the amendment to the bill for "open competition" in Richmond means two gaming licenses can be granted in Richmond.

If the bill passes and is signed into law, each city will have a voter referendum to approve of a casino in their respective city. That will likely easily pass. In all 5 cities.


Game of Skills
In recent years slot-like "game of skill" machines have popped all over the state in bars and convenience stores. These machines are unregulated currently. Only allowed due to legal loopholes. Legislation has been advancing to ban these machines, but many including Governor Northam are calling for regulation and keeping them.

It will be interesting to see how this all plays out.

https://www.heraldcourier.com/news/l...mpression=true

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Originally Posted by radicalwin

There is legislation working its way through the Virginia General Assembly that would legalize land based casinos, possibly online casinos, land based sports betting, and online sports betting. There were nearly 20 competing gambling bills. Most of those have rolled into SB 36 which has been referred the Finance Committee. Upon its expected approval there it will go to the Senate floor where it has bipartisan support.

The bill would allow one casino gaming license in 5 cities. Bristol, Danville, Norfolk, Portsmouth, and Richmond
The bill was amended to allow "open competition" in Richmond as there are two groups that want a casino there and city officials do not want to choose between the two.

Bristol
Hard Rock has proposed a casino there. This proposal has the support of local politicians.
Eastern Cherokee/The Pinnacle have propsed a casino there as well. Legislation seems to be favoring Hard Rock currently.

Danville
No proposed operators yet.

Portsmouth
The City of Portsmouth has been pushing for a casino for years to boost their economy. Their state senator is the patron of SB 36
The city has already partnered with Rush Street Gaming and has plans for the construction of an Entertainment District and a casino.

Norfolk
The Pamunkey Tribe has announced plans for a casino resort in Norfolk. They have already signed an agreement to purchase some city land near the Elizabeth River.

Richmond
The Pamunkey Tribe announced plans for $350 million resort and casino in south Richmond. They have already purchased the land where it will be built. City Council voted in support of a casino, but has a few more questions before giving a full green light.
Colonial Down Group/Rosie's Gaming Emporium has estimated it will lose 45% of its "historic horse racing" slot-like machine revenue if a casino is allowed. They wish for a gaming license so they can compete.
I am not sure if the amendment to the bill for "open competition" in Richmond means two gaming licenses can be granted in Richmond.

If the bill passes and is signed into law, each city will have a voter referendum to approve of a casino in their respective city. That will likely easily pass. In all 5 cities.


Game of Skills
In recent years slot-like "game of skill" machines have popped all over the state in bars and convenience stores. These machines are unregulated currently. Only allowed due to legal loopholes. Legislation has been advancing to ban these machines, but many including Governor Northam are calling for regulation and keeping them.

It will be interesting to see how this all plays out.

https://www.heraldcourier.com/news/l...mpression=true

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Bristol is 30 miles up the road from me. The maneuvering is going to be very interesting. The original agreement was for Hard Rock to build within Bristol (VA) city limits. The city of Bristol (VA) is more or less broke while on the other side of the street, Bristol (TN) has money. Well, the Cherokee tribe also has money, and their proposed site is technically not in the Bristol (VA) city limits, so that could possibly squeeze the city out of the revenue stream while opening it up to the county.

I would not consider the Cherokee much of an underdog to Hard Rock. I think they may have the leverage to get things rewritten. Cherokee Casino in Cherokee, NC is similar to Pechanga in California. Nice place, constantly expanding. The Cherokee also became chief sponsors of the sports arena in Asheville, NC, about halfway between Cherokee Casino and Bristol. They appear to have money to burn.

We'll see how it plays out. Latest news is it advanced out of the Finance Committee last evening and is heading for a vote on the full Senate floor. Some changes were made in the Finance committee. A compromise was inserted back in allowing Colonial Downs to add 2,000 hhr slot-like machines. The tax was also raised back to 27%. These items could change in conference as it is likely the House of Delegates and the Senate will pass slightly different versions. No conference though if they pass the same version of the bill.
Haven't read the new version passed last night yet.

https://www.wavy.com/news/politics/v...mpression=true

The House version has advanced out of committee and is heading to the House floor. The Senste will vote on their version Monday. The House will vote on their version.

The sports betting also seems to be advancing.

when you mention games of skill are you referring to the pinball machines like texas tea and cleopatra?

No, just these https://youtu.be/nzQl2vh5Tw0
Wish they had the ones you mentioned.

Big news so far today. Similar bills have passed the House and Senate that will legalize retail and online sports betting. Part of the bill would allow retail sports betting at a stadium "not yet built." Dan Snyder wants a sportbook license if he builds a new Redskins stadium in Virginia.

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Originally Posted by radicalwin

No, just these https://youtu.be/nzQl2vh5Tw0
Wish they had the ones you mentioned.

Big news so far today. Similar bills have passed the House and Senate that will legalize retail and online sports betting. Part of the bill would allow retail sports betting at a stadium "not yet built." Dan Snyder wants a sportbook license if he builds a new Redskins stadium in Virginia.

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I'll assume that if you hit the preview button and it shows a winning combination on the next spin (two of the same symbol on the same line as a different symbol), that you either cannot raise your bet size prior to the next spin or that you can but the reels also are re-initialized and the preview button is greyed out for the next spin on the new bet size (i.e. it is not greyed out if the next spin is the same bet size as the most recent spin, but otherwise is greyed out).

You can change your bet after hitting the next button. There is a different next button result for each game and bet level. You can cycle through them like Scarab or GE.
Won $62 at a gas station that way.
They are about to ban them. A bill advanced to its 3rd reading.
Casino legalization also advanced to its 3rd reading in the House. Full vote tomorrow.

Latest news: Virginia House of Delegates passed a bill today legalizing casinos. Senate is currently discussing their version as they prepare to pass it.
It also appears they will ban the unregulated games of skill

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I live very close to Northern Va.

for years I greatly respected their decision not to allow casinos despite all the competitive pressures to do so

yes, I've been and am a gambler but I believe the increasing immediate availability of casinos to almost every American is overkill

lots of people are going to get hurt by this - I'm aware of all the pros and cons of the various arguments

I'm very sorry to see Va. go this route

Those people "who will get hurt" already blow all their money on the lottery. At least they'll have better odds, get better entertainment, and get comped a hot meal now instead of walking out of 7-eleven hungry and broke.

The bills passed both Houses today! The Senate and House of Delegates fought on multiple issues before reaching compromise. The House wanted the maximum casino tax to be 27%. The Senate wanted 40%. The amount they agreed to is 30%. Senate won on $15 million for a license. The 5 cities that will be allowed one casino are Bristol, Danville, Norfolk, Portsmouth, and Richmond. They will give preference to the Pamunkey tribe and other lobby interests for better or worse. The casino license requires at least a $300 million investment. Each city will have a voter referendum this November. Richmond might be allowed to have one later. Not sure. It's expected that the casinos will open in 2024.

Rosie's will be allowed 600 additional "horse racing" slots for each referendum that passes. Basically they'll 3,000 more hhr machines. Many of those will be in Dumfries, Virginia.

Sports betting has also passed. This will not require a referendum, but they state lottery board has to setup regulations and pick between 4 to 12 operators. They can award online licenses to casinos that aren't open yet as well as groups like Fanduel and Draftkings. Sportsbook
licenses for casinos will not count against the 12. They can give pro teams a license that are headquartered in Virginia (aka the Redskins) I bet Danny is happy. Looks like there will be physical sportsbooks as well at the casinos.

One big issue that arose in the sports betting debate was college sports. Senate wanted it. The House wanted to ban college sports betting. The compromose was no betting on Virginia college teams and no individual college player prop
bets. College officials don't want college athletes taken advantage of...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by radicalwin

One big issue that arose in the sports betting debate was college sports. Senate wanted it. The House wanted to ban college sports betting. The compromose was no betting on Virginia college teams and no individual college player prop
bets. College officials don't want college athletes taken advantage of...

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Isn’t that what college officials do?

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Originally Posted by regnis

Quote:

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Originally Posted by radicalwin

One big issue that arose in the sports betting debate was college sports. Senate wanted it. The House wanted to ban college sports betting. The compromose was no betting on Virginia college teams and no individual college player prop
bets. College officials don't want college athletes taken advantage of...

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Isn’t that what college officials do?

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One state Senator even implied that when debating in favor of allowing wagering on Virginia college games.

So, Governor Northam made a few amendments this month to 3 of the bills. He wanted the casino tax money for schools, added NASCAR tracks to the sports betting bill, and recommended taxing games of skill for a year before banning them.

Both chambers of the General Assembly concurred on all of his amendments today. What does that mean?
There are a few formalities (Governor signing what he already approved) but:

Casinos are now legal in Virginia. Bristol, Danville, Norfolk, Portsmouth, and Richmond will all hold voter referendums this fall. Voter approval is expected. 2024 is the year they think casinos will open doors.

Sports betting is legal now. 12 licenses for online wagering plus licenses for professional sports teams including Nascar. This means Richmond Raceway and Martinsville will be able to offer sports betting, including online. Apparently the goal is to have some sprts wagering going by fall this year. Seems optimistic to me, but not impossible.

Games of Skill will remain remain legal for one more year until July 2021. They live to fight another day. Majority of taxes from it will go to a Covid 19 relief fund

I have confirmed that by law the Virginia Lottery has to have regulations for sportbetting in place by September 15th this year. Safe to say Virginia will have sportsbetting before the end of this year.

Caesars will have a property in Virginia in a few years. This means Raleigh/Durham area won't have to make the long trek to Baltimore or Cherokee to play at a Casears property.

Caesars has won a bid to build a property in Danville, Virginia: https://www.virginiabusiness.com/art...asino-project/

Danville is in southeastern Virginia. It's just 50 miles from Greensboro, NC, and just 82 miles from Raleigh, SC.

The casino will be ready in 2023 -- which is probably fine with Caesars, as it gives the country plenty of time to either control or eradicate the coronavirus.

The Danville property will give Caesars a presence in most of the southeastern US. They still have no casino in the Georgia or Florida areas, but this is a step in the right direction.

Tourists may not find reason to visit the new Danville property. While there are some nature areas to the northeast, there aren't any major tourist attractions nearby, or even in that direction along the way to anything else.

Bristol, Virginia just officially selected Hard Rock as its preferred operator. Council vote was 5-0

Key notes on the plan:
750 hotel rooms, 300 at open
2700 slot machines, 1500 at open
3200 seat indoor event center
20,000 capacity outdoor concert area

Campaigns have begun for the referendums in Bristol, Danville, Portsmouth, and Norfolk. Saw a billboard when I was driving through Norfolk for business reasons

Details on the Norfolk casino.
Pamunkey tribe says 300 hotel rooms, 3,000 slot machines, and 150 tables.

Virginia Sportsbetting regulations are getting public input on an online forum. Sportbetting in Virginia is expected to begin very early 2021.

Other news: Hard Rock Bristol wants a temporary license to have a smaller casino in an existing building while they build the resort.

https://www.danvilleva.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=4443