On Tuesday, November 5, voters in Petersburg, Virginia approved the Cordish Companies’ plans to create a brick-and-mortar casino in their town.
Petersburg citizens have the option to be heard since Richmond people voted twice against creating a casino.
With all precincts reporting Tuesday night, the proposition was passed 81.5% to 18.5%. According to the secretary of state’s office, there were 10,265 votes in favor and 2,325 against. The Cordish Companies have plans and a license to establish a Live! Casino in the city.
In 2020, state authorities legalized digital sports betting. At the same time, they identified five potential places for actual casinos around the state. However, each location required municipal permission before a license could be provided. To date, casinos in Bristol (Hard Rock), Danville (Caesars), and Portsmouth (Rivers) have opened. Boyd Gaming and the Pamunkey tribe began ground late last week on a $750 million casino near Norfolk, set to open in late 2027.
Richmond was the fifth city authorized. However, voters in 2021 rejected the referendum. Then, two years later, 61% of voters again voted no. Following the second setback, legislators in Petersburg, a small central Virginia town, decided they wanted in on the action.
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Petersburg was recognized as a viable location by state lawmakers, and Cordish received a license in a no-bid procedure from the municipal council.
The path to the Petersburg casino is rough.
The journey to a Petersburg casino has been anything but easy. Following the initial rejection in Richmond, Petersburg politicians began vying for the fifth casino location. However, state lawmakers decided to offer Richmond voters another chance, so Petersburg had to wait. In April, the Virginia Assembly revised the gaming measure to include Petersburg on the list.
Since then, one union has sued the city because the bidding procedure was not transparent, and the proposal was later contested. Petersburg legislators first asked for a plan to select a casino operator. Bally’s, Cordish Companies, Penn Entertainment, Rush Street, and the Warrenton Group, in collaboration with Delaware North, made proposals.
Each firm submitted their offer during a town hall meeting on April 14th. Ten days later, the municipal council gathered behind closed doors and announced a no-bid procedure, ultimately giving the contract to Cordish. The business had previously bid on the Richmond casino but was not picked.
In July, the Petersburg City Council and the Virginia Lottery accepted the referendum proposal, putting the topic on the ballot.
Cordish plans to build a $597 million casino, hotel, and entertainment complex on 92 acres of property in south Petersburg. The property will be constructed in two parts.
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