Virginia legislators voted to exclude Richmond from consideration for a casino.

Jafar224

Richmond lawmakers supported these bills. Becky Car and State Senator Ramonte Bagby directly responded to Richmond residents' rejection of the casino proposals twice.

Richmond voters rejected the casino proposal for the second time, prompting Virginia legislators to unanimously decide to permanently remove the city from potential casino sites.

The House unanimously voted to revoke Richmond's casino operating license.

The Virginia legislature passed legislation aimed at removing Richmond from the list of cities where casinos could be located. According to WRIC News, this legislation received overwhelming support in the state Senate with a vote of 100-0, following bipartisan efforts. Subsequently, the State Senate further supported advancing this legislation with a vote of 40-0.

Richmond lawmakers have expressed support for the proposed legislation, including Becky Car of the James River and State Senator Ramonte Bagby, as a clear response to Richmond residents' rejection of the casino proposals.

Senator Bagby emphasized the importance of representing the will of the citizens, stating that he was elected by the citizens of Richmond and had expressed their opposition twice.

This legislation aims to amend the state code, which previously specifically mentioned the cities of Portsmouth, Norfolk, Danville, and Bristol as eligible casino locations but may include Richmond as a qualified casino site.

This legislation was proposed after two statewide referendums failed to pass.

If Governor Glenn Youngkin signs the bill, it will effectively exclude the city from consideration by removing the language that previously made Richmond eligible. Criteria such as population size, property tax exemptions, and poverty rates will no longer apply to Richmond.

According to the US Census Bureau, the population of Richmond exceeded 230,000 in 2018, surpassing the eligibility threshold.

In the fiscal year 2018, over a quarter of the city's homes were exempt from property taxes based on assessed values.

This decision comes after dissatisfaction with its gambling industry development, as voters overwhelmingly rejected proposals in November 2021 and November 2023.

Meanwhile, the legislative process continues with discussions on the eligibility of a casino located in St. Petersburg that is still operational. Plans for a referendum on casinos dating back to 2007 have been postponed until 2025 in Fairfax County.

Isha000

It seems they also have their own considerations.

Ritu13

Actually, exclusion is a good thing; not all casinos necessarily bring benefits.

Yamini003

They also have the right to speak up.