The clock barely ticked past two and a half minutes when the Petersburg City Council collectively gave their nod, urging the Petersburg Circuit Court to greenlight a referendum that could potentially shuffle casino gaming into the city. With a resounding 7-0 vote held on a brisk Monday morning, another high-stakes hand has been dealt in the quest to bring this ambitious casino project to life.
City Officials Wasted No Time
On July 9, the Virginia Lottery Board, the gatekeepers of the state’s gaming affairs, dispatched a letter to the city’s administration, rubber-stamping Petersburg’s plea to hold the referendum. Fast forward to the City Council’s forthcoming meet-up at the Petersburg Public Library – a quiet room with just one spirited citizen present amidst a sea of city staff, media, and a sprinkle of security personnel.
Vice Mayor Darrin Hill, the standard-bearer of Ward 2—the proposed launchpad for the glitzy casino resort pending voter approval in November—proudly tabled the motion. In the blink of an eye—two and a half minutes, to be precise—the resolution was cartwheeling its way toward the courthouse. Petersburg Circuit Court Judge Dennis Martin put pen to paper within hours, cementing the motion’s formal submission.
With this strategic vote setting the wheels in motion, Petersburg’s judiciary system now races against time, having until August 16 to bless the referendum, ensuring its spot on the November 5 ballot. The referendum will prompt voters to weigh in with a “yes” or “no” on checkboxes—determining whether a new casino gaming haven is right for the City of Petersburg.
The Casino Project Remains on Track
Maryland-based gaming colossus The Cordish Companies and Virginia’s proud Bruce Smith Enterprise have thrown their chips into the pot, securing a major bet with an investment of $597 million to birth a casino, hotel, and entertainment complex sprawling over 92 acres just off Wagner Road in southern Petersburg. This winning hand includes a temporary casino they plan to unveil on-site should the referendum clear the hurdle, with aspirations of dealing cards by the end of 2025.
The buzz around the table is that this influential project could rake in significant chips for Petersburg’s economy, ushering in job opportunities for about 7,500 individuals, each earning an average of $70,000 annually, inclusive of benefits and tips. Petersburg now holds the ace, taking over from Richmond as one of Virginia’s five approved casino destinations, after Richmond voters folded in two previous referenda.
As Petersburg drafts its blueprint towards a potential casino future, eyes are peeled on what could potentially be a jackpot result from the forthcoming vote. Should the referendum triumph, the state’s general assembly faces one final vote, signaling an official go-ahead for the project—poised to inject a surge of economic growth, job creation, and heightened tourism into the region’s veins.
