The Outcome of the Richmond Gambling Venue Vote Remains Uncertain with Voters Divided.
Recent polling suggests that the outcome of the upcoming casino referendum in Richmond, Virginia, remains uncertain. Voting on the $562 million project proposed by Urban One, Inc. and Churchill Downs, Inc. is currently underway. While the majority of the votes will be cast on Election Day, November 7, residents are already making their decisions regarding whether Richmond should become a casino host destination.
The results of a poll by the national polling outlet co/efficient indicate a divided electorate. The poll, first obtained by WRIC ABC 8 News, showed that 43% of the respondents plan to "definitely vote no" on the casino question, while only 39% plan to "definitely vote yes."
The Richmond City Council is asking residents the following question on the ballot: "Shall casino gaming be permitted at a casino gaming establishment in the City of Richmond, Virginia, at 2001 Walmsley Boulevard and 4700 Trenton Avenue, Virginia, 23234, as may be approved by the Virginia Lottery Board?"
A Pivotal Decision
If Richmond residents endorse the casino project, which they narrowly rejected in 2021 by a 51%-49% margin, Urban One and Churchill Downs representatives claim the benefits it would bring to the region would be significant.
The developers have promised to hire 1,300 people, most of whom would be union members with an average compensation of $55,000 in salary and benefits. The Richmond Grand Resort & Casino project is expected to contribute $30 million annually in local taxes to the city.
The Richmond City Council and Mayor Levar Stoney (D) believe that a large portion of this tax revenue would be utilized to support early childhood programs.
Nonetheless, a significant number of Richmond residents oppose the Richmond Grand Resort & Casino.
'No Means No' Reiterated
The campaign against the Richmond Grand has argued that holding another vote on the casino violates the democratic process. A lawsuit from local activist Paul Goldman and his "No Means No Casino" organization recently prevailed, with the court ruling that he was unlawfully denied access to the voter lists given to pro-casino groups.
Opponents have also voiced concerns that establishing a casino in Richmond's Southside could harm the Black community, which is more prone to gambling and gambling disorders, according to behavioral health specialists. Research conducted by Rutgers University's Center for Gambling Studies revealed that Black people experience twice the rate of gambling dependencies compared to white people.
However, Stoney and the Richmond City Council, including Reva Trammell, representing the 8th District Southside, maintain that the casino would attract important economic investment and provide well-paying jobs to the area.
The Final City to Join the Group of Five
Virginia lawmakers passed legislation in 2020 that allowed five cities dealing with specific economic hardships to deliberate on introducing a casino to stimulate their local economies. Four of these cities, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Bristol, and Danville, held referendums in November 2020 where voters endorsed allowing a commercial casino.
Richmond, which generated the most interest from casino companies, postponed its gaming referendum to 2021 to permit a competitive bidding procedure to unfold. Richmond officials eventually chose Urban One over its competitor, Peninsula Pacific Entertainment, despite not having prior experience in constructing or running a casino.
Following the acquisition of most of Peninsula Pacific's assets by Urban One in 2022 for $2.5 billion, the conglomerate now collaborates with Churchill Downs.
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Source: www.casino.org
