General Assembly votes to allow Petersburg casino referendum

PETERSBURG, Va. (WWBT) -The City of Petersburg has been added to the list of places eligible for a casino after Governor Youngkin accepted move Wednesday.

SB628, sponsored by Senator Lashrecse Arid, was passed 80-19 with an amendment that removes the reenactment clause. This means the General Assembly opened a path for residents to vote on a referendum to have casino gaming in the city as soon as this November.

“After two previous failed attempts, in my first Senate session, the General Assembly has officially given its support to allow the citizens of Petersburg to have a referendum vote on a casino,” said Sen. Aird. “I made a promise to give my community this opportunity and today I delivered on that promise. While voters will have the final say on whether a casino becomes a reality, this legislation has the potential for multi-million dollar economic investment to be made in a community that both needs and truly deserves it.”

Leaders in support of this project believe this will be positive for the people of Petersburg. Bruce Smith Enterprises and his development team presented their ideas to the community through virtual renderings and videos on Sunday.

The resort and casino are said to create more job opportunities and growth, but not everyone agrees.

“We do need jobs, but do we need casino jobs? Are casino jobs good jobs, are these career jobs?” questioned. Vannay Kirkland, a Petersburg resident.

Last year, the bill to let residents consider voting on a casino was shot down before it even left the Senate Finance Committee.

City leaders say they will move quickly to add the referendum to the 2024 ballot this fall.