Three Virginia cities are striving to bring casino gambling to the state in a bid to secure Earnings amid Fiscal Conflicts
A third city is on course to join a coordinated attempt to persuade the government of Virginia into legalize casino gaming after Bristol and Portsmouth each passed earlier this year a resolution on the topic.
Members of the Danville City Council are gearing up to pass a similar resolution over the next few days, it has emerged.
Casino gambling is currently illegal in Virginia. What is more, the Legislature has quenched any attempt to bring casinos or another form of gaming into the country for decades. But, lawmakers revealed earlier this year signs that their stance may be softening by enabling historical horse race gambling.
Bristol programmers have pitched a $150-million plan for a casino resort in the vacated Bristol Mall, promising new jobs and revenue to the area and the state. The Bristol City Council passed a resolution supporting the match scheme in September. City Council members stated back then that the materialization of the project could provide the city and the area with a much-needed economic boost.
Commenting on the topic, City Manager Randy Eads has stated that Bristol needs the opportunity to boost its financial position sooner rather than later because its debt load “is getting ready to increase radically over the next several years” along with the earnings generated in the casino hotel “can help alleviate financial issues” related to an increase in the city’s debt load.
Casino Bill in the Works
With support from Bristol, two Virginia lawmakers have started work on a bill that would allow city residents to vote on the possible building of a casino in a referendum. Israel O’Quinn are intending to present the item throughout the 2019 legislative session of the General Assembly.
In accordance with Mr. Eads, there’ll be little opposition to the casino attempt if and after it moves all of the hurdles from the Legislature. However, that may not be the case just as a Bristol family organization has already launched an attempt to prevent the opening of a casino hotel in the city, asserting that an institution of this type would only bring “addiction, poverty, greater crime, prostitution, sex trafficking, medications, diminished poverty worth, etc..
As stated previously, Portsmouth City Council members, also, voiced their support for casino expansion inside the state’s borders. In Octoberthey passed a resolution like the one accepted in Bristol.
Danville is now looking to come on board. Likewise to Bristol and Portsmouth, the city has been struggling with fiscal problems for years now. The loss of key industries has also resulted in a significant drop of population, a problem Bristol and Portsmouth have, also, faced. Officials from all three towns have pointed out that a casino in each of them could enhance their economic position swiftly and significantly.
With the upcoming debut of the casino invoice in addition to of three sports gambling statements , 2019 may be a milestone year for Virginia, where the state could establish a controlled gambling market.
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