Virginia city Petersburg given further encouragement in casino push

Article by : Charles Perrin Jan 26, 2024

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Virginia city Petersburg has been handed further impetus in its bid to bring a commercial casino resort to the area following an endorsement by another top-level lawmaker in Richmond.

Don Scott (D- Portsmouth), who was sworn in as the new Virginia House Speaker earlier this month, has given his backing to Petersburg to push ahead with a gambling bill.

According to Scott, Petersburg appears to be a suitable qualifying casino host, and it should continue with its legislative endeavors.

He said: “Last year, it had the wrong people leading it. I think, right now, the right people are based in the community who really care and don’t bring politics in.

“It’s an economic development opportunity. It’s a job-growth opportunity. I think they had a person coming in, people coming in, wanting it to do more with politics.”

But Scott isn’t the only prominent legislative player supporting Petersburg’s casino push, with Senate President Pro Tempore Louise Lucas (D -Portsmouth) and Senator Lashrecse Aird (D – Petersburg) also rallying behind the effort.

Indeed, Aird, who is co-sponsoring the bill, believes Petersburg satisfies the economic criteria to make the city a designated casino host.

Legislators made an amendment to a 2020 bill allowing a fifth city in desperate need of revitalization to have a casino, but it has been a bone of contention over the past few years.

The Cordish Companies, for example, expressed a serious interest in 2022 to bring a commercial casino resort to Petersburg. At the time, it unveiled plans of its $1.6 billion proposal, suggesting it would take several years to construct, but things seemed to have ground to a halt.

Scott, however, is adamant Petersburg needs to be given sufficient backing from their leaders to get things over the line.

He added: “If the people of Petersburg want a casino, they should be able [to have a casino].

“But it has to come from the people who represent them and it has to have the right leadership to get it done.”

The picture is likely to become clearer over the coming months in the Virginia casino debate, but Scott’s comments should carry some gravitas.