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Virginia hold ’em
The slot machines are already ringing out in Bristol and Portsmouth, where Virginia’s first commercial casinos opened during the past year. The state’s first permanent casino, Rivers Casino Portsmouth, opened its doors on Jan. 23. Operated by Chicago-based Rush Street Gaming, the resort has 1,148 slot machines, 57 table games and 24 poker tables, as […]
Second Petersburg casino bill dies in Senate committee
Updated Friday, Feb. 17 Petersburg voters won’t get an opportunity to approve a casino this fall, and Richmond may get a second chance to vote on a casino referendum in 2023, state legislators decided Thursday in a 10-6 vote. However, the matter could come down to last-minute state budget negotiations. The Virginia State Senate’s Finance […]
Petersburg casino bill passes Va. House
The Virginia House of Delegates narrowly passed a bill Tuesday that would allow Petersburg residents to vote on a casino referendum this fall. The legislation moves next to the Virginia State Senate, where a similar bill died in committee. Del. Kim Taylor, R-Dinwiddie, sponsored HB 1373, which passed 49-44 in the full House vote, with […]
Morrissey’s Petersburg casino bill fails in Senate Finance
Updated Friday, Feb. 3 With an 7-8 no vote Thursday evening, the Virginia Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee killed state Sen. Joe Morrissey’s measure to bring a casino referendum to Petersburg‘s ballots this fall. A similar bill in the House of Delegates, however, is still alive. A few days after receiving support from the Senate […]
February 2023 Top Five
The top five most-read daily news stories on VirginiaBusiness.com from Dec. 15, 2022, to Jan. 13 included an update on the planned merger of Eastern Virginia Medical School into Old Dominion University. 1 | Youngkin budget outlines EVMS/ODU merger by 2024 EVMS would merge with ODU by July 2024, according to Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s proposed […]
Danville lacks housing options for workforce
Danville is having a “Field of Dreams” dilemma. The famous movie quote, “If you build it, they will come,” rings all too true in the former mill town, which is attracting companies to its industrial parks and old Dan River Mills properties, along with a $650 million casino. It’s good news on paper, but where […]
Petersburg casino bill moves to Senate committee
A Virginia State Senate bill that would allow Petersburg residents to vote on allowing a casino in their city is still in play, following a 7-2 vote by the Senate gaming subcommittee Thursday. The bill will progress to a General Laws and Technology committee vote Wednesday. The bill from Sen. Joe Morrissey, D-Richmond, adds Petersburg […]
Rivers Casino Portsmouth opens to big crowds
When Rivers Casino Portsmouth opened its doors Monday, Christopher Hoffman was among the thousands of patrons attending opening day at the first permanent casino to open in Virginia. A Hampton resident and manager at Rosie’s Gaming Emporium, Hoffman said he wanted to be “part of history” happening in the state. He gave the casino a good […]
Rivers Casino Portsmouth opening delayed
Rivers Casino Portsmouth‘s grand opening has been delayed until Jan. 23, eight days after its initially scheduled opening planned for Jan. 15, the casino announced Tuesday. The casino wanted to allow for additional time to test and verify new gaming equipment, a spokesperson for the casino said in an email. “Providing a superior guest experience […]
December 2022 Top Five
The top five most-read daily news stories on VirginiaBusiness.com from Nov. 14 to Dec. 14, 2022, included a Virginia Business scoop about a restaurant on the culture-war frontlines that became a national news story. 1 | Richmond restaurant refuses service to conservative Christian group Metzger Bar & Butchery canceled The Family Foundation’s reservation, citing the […]
Caesars ups the ante on Danville casino
Since its approval by Danville voters in November 2020, plans for a casino in the city have shifted. In August 2022, Caesars Entertainment Inc. announced a partnership with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI). Together, they upped the size and scope of Caesars Virginia, increasing their investment from $400 million to $650 million. They’re also […]
Crowded out
Election years are not the time to make waves in Virginia’s legislature, says Greg Habeeb, a former Roanoke delegate who now advises clients pursuing legislation in the General Assembly. Big changes — the kind the state saw during the Democrats’ two years of full legislative control in 2020 and 2021 — are expected to be […]
