Richmond, Virginia, Casino Authorization Referendum (November 2021)

Richmond Casino Authorization Referendum
Election date November 2, 2021
Topic Local gambling
Status d Defeated
Type Referral	Origin Lawmakers

Richmond Casino Authorization Referendum was on the ballot as a referral in Richmond on November 2, 2021. It was defeated.

A "yes" vote supported authorizing the construction of a casino (the ONE Casino + Resort owned by Urban One) in Richmond, Virginia.

A "no" vote opposed authorizing the construction of a casino (the ONE Casino + Resort owned by Urban One) in Richmond, Virginia.

A simple majority was required for the approval of this referendum.

Election results

Richmond Casino Authorization Referendum
Result		Votes	Percentage
Yes		38,750	49.05%
No		40,243	50.95%

Results are officially certified.

Source

Overview

In 2020, the Virginia General Assembly passed and the governor signed Senate Bill 36, which authorized the Cities of Portsmouth, Richmond, Norfolk, Danville, and Bristol to hold a referendum asking city voters whether or not to allow a casino in the city. The law required the city to select a preferred resort casino operator and location before requesting a court order for a referendum election. Voters in Bristol, Danville, Norfolk, and Portsmouth approved the referendums at city elections on November 3, 2020.

Approval of this referendum would have authorized construction to begin on the One Casino + Resort project, owned by Urban One. The casino was designed to include 2,000 slot machines, 110 table games, a poker room, and a sportsbook. The hotel was designed to include 250 rooms, with a possible expansion to 600 rooms; a resort-style spa; 15 bars and restaurants; an event center with a capacity of 3,000 people; 200 entertainment events per year; a 55-acre park for outdoor space; and TV & Radio production studios.

Urban One was required to design, finance, construct, operate, and maintain the casino with no financial obligation from the city. The minimum capital investment required from Urban One was set at $562,534,705. The city of Richmond said the casino would be the only black-owned casino in the United States. ONE Casino + Resort committed to creating 1,500 permanent jobs, an average salary of $55,000 per year with benefits, employee profit-sharing, and a minimum starting wage of $15 per hour.

Text of measure

Ballot title

The ballot title for Casino Authorization Referendum was as follows:

“

Shall casino gaming be permitted at a casino gaming establishment in the city of Richmond, Virginia, at 2001 Walmsley Boulevard and 4700 Trenton Avenue, Richmond, Virginia 23234 as may be approved by the Virginia Lottery Board? [ ] Yes [ ] No

”

Full Text

The full text of this measure is available here.

Support

Vote Yes for One led the campaign in support of the ballot measure

Supporters

• Candidae and Former Governor Terry McAuliffe (D)
• State Senator Joseph Morrissey (D)
• City of Richmond Department of Economic Development
• One Casino + Resort

Arguments

• Alfred Liggins, Urban One’s chief executive officer, said, "This project will positively impact every Richmond community. These numbers do not represent a pie-in-the-sky unfulfilled promise either. These numbers represent the actual by-product of building this type of a complex. The positive effect on the city and its residents is substantial and very, very real."
• State Senator Joseph Morrissey (D) said, "The choice is: Keep the area as it is currently — a barren wasteland where no industry has ever sprouted or, instead, create a beautiful mecca of entertainment with fabulous hotels, beautiful gaming facilities, extravagant shows, top-notch restaurants, infrastructure and housing improvements and a state-of-the-art 'green space.' I’m for the ONE Casino project and I hope that you will be, too. Please vote 'yes' on the casino referendum this November.

Campaign advertisements

The following video was released on YouTube by the City of Richmond Department of Economic Development and ONE Casino + Resort.

Opposition

Richmond for All led the Communities, Not Casinos campaign in opposition to the measure.

Opponents

• U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D)
• Richmond School Board Member Kenya Gibson
• Richmond School Board Member Stephanie Rizzi
• Richmond School Board Member Jonathan Young

Arguments

• In a press release, Senator Tim Kaine's office said, "Senator Kaine voted on Monday, September 20. He voted against the casino proposal. He believes there are better ways to enhance economic development in Richmond."

Background

In 2020, the Virginia General Assembly passed and the governor signed Senate Bill 36, which authorized the Cities of Portsmouth, Richmond, Norfolk, Danville, and Bristol to hold a referendum asking city voters whether or not to allow a casino in the city. Voters in Bristol, Danville, Norfolk, and Portsmouth approved the referendums at city elections on November 3, 2020.

Bristol

Ballot question: "Shall casino gaming be permitted at a casino gaming establishment in the City of Bristol, Virginia at 500 Gate City Highway, Bristol, Virginia 24201 (former Bristol Mall) as may be approved by the Virginia Lottery Board?"

• Yes votes: 5,490 (71%)
• No votes: 2,227 (29%)

Danville

Ballot question: "Shall casino gaming be permitted at a casino gaming establishment in the City of Danville, Virginia at 1100 West Main Street, Danville, Virginia 24541 (former Dan River Mills Schoolfield Division Site) as may be approved by the Virginia Lottery Board?"

• Yes votes: 13,151 (69%)
• No votes: 5,983 (31%)

Norfolk

Ballot question: "Shall casino gaming be permitted at a casino gaming establishment in the City of Norfolk on property east of Harbor Park Stadium bounded to the north by Park Avenue, to the South by the Eastern Branch of the Elizabeth River, and generally to the east by Norfolk & Western Railway railroad tracks with an approximate street address of 200 Park Avenue, as may be approved by the Virginia Lottery Board?"

• Yes votes: 57,741 (65%)
• No votes: 31,015 (35%)

Portsmouth

Ballot question: "Shall casino gaming be permitted at a casino gaming establishment in Portsmouth, Virginia located at 3606 Victory Boulevard and surrounding undeveloped properties called the "Entertainment District" located east of Victory Boulevard, south of Interstate 264, west of McLean Street and north of Greenwood Drive as may be approved by the Virginia Lottery Board?"

• Yes votes: 29,169 (67%)
• No votes: 14,530 (33%)

Path to the ballot

See also: Laws governing local ballot measures in Virginia

In 2020, the Virginia General Assembly passed and the governor signed Senate Bill 36, which authorized the Cities of Portsmouth, Richmond, Norfolk, Danville, and Bristol to hold a referendum asking city voters whether or not to allow a casino in the city. The law required the city to select a preferred resort casino operator and location before requesting a court order for a referendum election.

This referendum was called by the Richmond City Council. On August 4, 2021, the Circuit Court of the City of Richmond ordered the measure to be placed on the ballot during a special election on November 2, 2021.

See also

Local measures

• Local measures in 2021
• Local gambling on the ballot

Virginia

• Virginia 2021 local measures
• Local ballot measures, Virginia
• Richmond, Virginia

News and analysis

• State and local preemption conflicts
• Measures advancing national agendas

External links

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