The town of Richmond, Virginia, in partnership with City One, can be foregoing the referendum marketing campaign for its on line casino venture until 2023, based mostly on language within the state’s funds. It had earlier deliberate to carry the poll by November 2022, however it will likely be delayed by a 12 months.
Richmond was one of many cities chosen by the state legislature to host a on line casino, and after a radical bidding course of, City One – a black-centric media firm which owns Radio One – was chosen to spearhead the venture. Nevertheless, in November 2021, the folks of Richmond narrowly voted for a rejection of the venture, with 51% in opposition to and 48.6% for it. If permitted by the voters, the $565 million venture – proposed to be constructed alongside the I-95 in South Richmond – was set to carry hundreds of well-paying jobs, and much-needed tax income for faculties, first responders, roads, and different infrastructure for the town.
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The vote didn’t dissuade metropolis officers, who sought to carry one other referendum on the matter in November 2022. However that transfer has been blocked by the supply within the state funds which mandates that no locality the place a on line casino referendum has already failed “shall be eligible to carry a subsequent native referendum till November 2023”. The town may also be combating Petersburg for the fitting to host a on line casino after the latter started lobbying for it a day after the Richmond referendum failed.
In line with Alfred Liggans, City One CEO and the driving pressure behind the referendum, “We had been disenchanted with the introduction of the funds language, particularly after each the Home and Senate payments containing comparable language had been defeated within the Common Meeting.
“Regardless of sturdy authorized arguments to help shifting ahead in 2022, now we have requested our accomplice, the Metropolis of Richmond, to withdraw their petition for a November 2022 poll referendum as a result of we really feel an extended protracted authorized dispute at the moment doesn’t greatest serve the residents of Richmond or the State of Virginia. We are actually centered on profitable the Richmond on line casino referendum in 2023.”
The town has additionally issued an announcement: “The Metropolis of Richmond, on the request of our longstanding neighborhood accomplice, City One, is making ready to file a petition to take away the on line casino referendum from the November 2022 poll. Understanding City One’s reasoning, the town stands prepared to maneuver the proposed One On line casino + Resort ahead in 2023.”