Petersburg Officials Blast Revenue Sharing Bill for Future Virginia Casino

^{Virginia Delegate Mike Cherry introduced a House casino bill that city officials in Petersburg say blindsided and insults them. (Image: Gage Skidmore / Flickr)}

Officials in the city of Petersburg, Virginia have issued a pointed rebuke to proposed legislation that would install a commission to oversee the distribution of funds from Live! Casino & Hotel Virginia, the gaming facility scheduled to open in the city in 2026.

The casino, which was approved by Petersburg voters in November, is being developed by the Cordish Companies and Bruce Smith Enterprise.

Commission Would Be Charged with Distributing Casino Taxes

House Bill 2232, introduced by Virginia Delegate Mike Cherry (R-Colonial Heights), would create the Tri-Cities Improvement Commission. That commission would disburse tax revenues from the Petersburg casino among five jurisdictions that make up the Tri-City area, including not only Petersburg, but also Hopewell, Colonial Heights, Dinwiddie, and Prince George. The commission would be made up of members appointed by each locality to two-year terms. 

A similar setup is used to manage the tax revenue generated by the Hard Rock Casino in Bristol, Virginia, where revenue is split between 12 counties and two cities. However, Petersburg officials say they had no warning that such legislation was being proposed, and that it would take away revenue from a distressed city that was counting on taxes from the casino.

“This bill insults the residents of Petersburg,” city officials said in a statement released Saturday. “It fails to respect their voices and prioritizes political self-interest during an election year above economic and local well-being. The region benefits from businesses in neighboring localities and will organically profit from the destination resort and casino without a mandate from the commonwealth.”

Local Representatives Weigh In on Proposal 

State Senator Lashrecse Aird (D-Petersburg) – who had disagreements with Petersburg officials during the casino approval process – told The Progress-Index that she was unaware of the bill, and would have to read it before commenting.

However, Delegate Kim Taylor (R-Dinwiddie County), whose district includes Petersburg, has already expressed support for the bill – something that didn’t go unnoticed by city officials.

“This legislation, submitted without any prior consultation with Petersburg City Council, administration, or any of the surrounding local governments, is an act that disregards local government and the citizens served,” Petersburg officials said in their statement. “This lack of communication is particularly troubling given the city’s ongoing and regular discussions with Delegate Taylor and her staff about the city’s legislative agenda.”

The bill has yet to be heard in the General Assembly, and will first have to be assigned to a House committee before any movement on the legislation can begin. 

Live! Casino & Hotel Virginia is eventually expected to include 1,600 slot machines, a 3,000-seat entertainment venue, a sportsbook, convention space, and a 200-room hotel as part of a $1.4 billion development. However, developers first plan to have a temporary venue up and running by 2026, which would include 1,000 slots, 23 table games, and a 15-table poker room.

Over 81 percent of Petersburg voters voted in favor of the casino in November, with 12,590 total votes cast.