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VPAP names new director
Chris Piper, former commissioner of the Virginia Department of Elections under Gov. Ralph Northam, will be the next director of the Virginia Public Access Project (VPAP) after founder David Poole retires on June 30, the organization announced. Founded in 1997, VPAP started as a joint effort by the state’s five largest news[...]
SCHEV director to step down
Peter Blake, the long-time director of the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV), will step down by the end of the year, SCHEV announced Thursday. Blake has been director of SCHEV since 2012. The state higher education agency makes policy recommendations and approves new degree programs and schools within univer[...]
Va. casinos report $35.4M in April revenue
Gaming revenues from Virginia’s two casinos open in April totaled $35.4 million last month, according to data released Monday from the Virginia Lottery. Rivers Casino Portsmouth, which received its casino license in November 2022 and opened Jan. 23, reported $21.3 million in adjusted gross revenue (wagers minus winnings) i[...]
Virginians bet almost $512M on sports in March
Virginians won $456 million but bet $511.6 million on sports in March, a 9% increase in betting expenditures over March 2022, according to data released Monday by the Virginia Lottery. About $507 million of sports betting revenue came from mobile operators, with the remaining almost $4.59 million coming from casino retail activi[...]
May 2023 Top Five
The top five most-read daily news stories on VirginiaBusiness.com from March 14 to April 13 included Washington Commanders owner Dan Snyder’s efforts to sell the Ashburn-based NFL team to a group of bidders including Philadelphia 76ers owner Josh Harris and NBA legend Magic Johnson. 1 | Naval operations building in Suffolk sells for $33M Home […]
Lottery approves Danville Caesars casino’s license
UPDATED: April 26, 4 p.m. The Virginia Lottery Board approved the facility operator’s license for Danville’s $650 million Caesars Virginia casino, which is expected to open in a temporary space on May 15. It’s the third casino to receive state approval, following the Hard Rock casino in Bristol and Rivers Cas[...]
Va. to establish trade office in Taiwan
Virginia will establish a trade office in Taipei, Taiwan’s capital, Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced Monday morning after meeting with that country’s president, Tsai Ing-wen. Youngkin’s meeting with Taiwan’s president came during the governor’s first international trade mission, during which he will al[...]
Chesterfield hires first sports/visitation/entertainment exec
Chesterfield County has hired J.C. Poma as its first executive director of sports, visitation and entertainment, with a focus on growing sports tourism, the county announced Friday. Currently the vice president of community relations for regional marketing organization Richmond Region Tourism, Poma will start his new position wi[...]
Innovation, capital key to rural growth, Barkin and Warner say
There’s hope for economic growth in rural areas despite their challenges, Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond President and CEO Tom Barkin and U.S. Sen. Mark Warner said Wednesday during the Fed‘s 2023 Investing in Rural America conference in Roanoke. Rural areas could overcome economic development challenges, particul[...]
Governor would delay subminimum wage ban for disabled workers
RICHMOND, Va. ‒ Gov. Glenn Youngkin recently recommended the General Assembly accept an amended version of a bill that ends the practice of paying subminimum wage to certain Virginia workers with disabilities. A certificate exemption under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act allows employers to determine pay for disabled workers based on a productivity calculation […]
Youngkin to meet with Taiwan’s president
Amid rising tensions with China, Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin will meet with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen on his first international trade mission this month. Youngkin will travel to Taipei City, Taiwan; Tokyo; and Seoul, South Korea, from April 24 to April 29, according to a Tuesday news release. “I’m excited to rep[...]
Virginians wager $433M on sports in February
Virginians bet more than $433.8 million on sports in February, according to data released Friday by the Virginia Lottery. Virginia sports bettors won more than $394 million in February. More than $430 million of sports betting revenue came from mobile operators, with the remaining roughly $3.55 million coming from casino retail [...]
