Petersburg Casino Project Maintains Momentum

It only took the Petersburg City Council two and a half minutes to unanimously approve a move asking the Petersburg Circuit Court to sanction a referendum to bring casino gaming to the city. The decisive 7-0 vote occurred Monday morning, marking another vital milestone in the high-profile casino project’s path to fruition.

City Officials Wasted No Time

On 9 July, the Virginia Lottery Board, which oversees the state’s gaming industry, sent a letter to the city administration approving Petersburg’s request to hold the referendum. The City Council’s subsequent meeting, held at the Petersburg Public Library, saw only one citizen in attendance, with the rest of the audience comprising city staff, media, and police acting as security.

Vice Mayor Darrin Hill, representing Ward 2, where the proposed casino resort will launch pending voter approval in November, proudly launched the motion to approve the action. Fellow councilors wasted no time, and in two and a half minutes, the resolution was on its way to the courthouse. Petersburg Circuit Court Judge Dennis Martin signed the motion a few hours later.

Following this vote, Petersburg’s court has until 16 August to approve the referendum in time for it to appear on the 5 November ballot. The referendum will ask voters whether they approve of a new casino gaming establishment in the City of Petersburg providing gambling services. The ballot will provide “yes” and “no” checkboxes for voters to indicate their decision.

The Casino Project Remains on Track

The Cordish Companies, a Maryland-based casino developer, and Virginia-based Bruce Smith Enterprise have partnered to invest $597 million into this project, featuring a casino, hotel, and entertainment complex on 92 acres of land just off Wagner Road in southern Petersburg. This investment includes a temporary casino the group plans to build onsite should the referendum pass, with hopes of opening by the end of 2025.

According to various stakeholders, the project should significantly bolster Petersburg’s economy, providing employment opportunities for roughly 7,500 people, with an average annual compensation of $70,000, including benefits and tips. The city takes the place of Richmond as one of Virginia’s five approved casino locations after Richmond voters rejected gambling in two different referenda.

As Petersburg moves closer to a potential casino future, stakeholders and residents will be closely watching the outcome of the upcoming vote. Following a successful referendum, the state’s general assembly will have one final vote, signaling an official start for the project and potentially bringing economic growth, job creation, and increased tourism to the area.