Voters in Virginia's Commonwealth have started submitting their choices for the upcoming president of the United States, US Senate, US House of Representatives, and several local government roles. Voters in Petersburg are also deciding whether a commercial casino can be permitted within their city boundaries. 

Early voting in Virginia commenced on Friday. Cordish Companies, located in Baltimore, is offering Petersburg voters a $1.4 billion mixed-use project featuring a casino resort under the Live! brand. 

Together with Bruce Smith Enterprises, Cordish’s suggested initial development phase is a $600 million project that aims to establish Live! Virginia Casino & Hotel. The resort is planned to be constructed off Interstate 95 at Wagner Rd. adjacent to the Brasfield Parkway. 

Should a simple majority of voters support the gaming development, Cordish and Bruce Smith would proceed with the licensing process by completing suitability assessments conducted by the Virginia Lottery, which oversees casinos and sports betting in the state.

"We are committed to ensuring that every voter in Petersburg has the facts they need to make an informed decision,” said Zed Smith, Cordish’s chief operating officer. “We believe that a ‘yes’ vote for the casino referendum is a vote for a brighter future for Petersburg.”

The $600 million plan features a 200-room hotel that boasts eight dining and drinking establishments, 35,000 square feet of conference space, a concert hall with a 3,000-seat capacity, and a casino area with 1,600 slot machines, 50 live dealer tables, a 15-table poker area, and a sportsbook. 

 

How We Arrived at This Point 

In 2020, Virginia legislators approved a law permitting commercial casinos in five specified cities — Richmond, Portsmouth, Norfolk, Bristol, and Danville. The gaming legislation received backing in the state that had previously resisted casino gambling, as it was believed that the gaming resorts could stimulate the local economies that urgently required an economic recovery. 

The 2020 law mandated that every city conduct a local referendum prior to the Virginia Lottery considering the issuance of a gaming license. Everyplace except Richmond conducted successful referendums with majority backing to permit their casino ventures. 

Following a plea from Richmond officials urging residents to support a casino, a second vote occurred in November 2023, revealing even greater resistance to a gaming project. Consequently, state legislators prohibited Richmond from conducting more casino referendums and revised the 2020 statute to permit Petersburg to consider a casino. 

Petersburg selected Cordish and Bruce Smith as its chosen partners for gaming development. Functioning together as PPE Casino Resorts Petersburg, LLC, Cordish and Bruce Smith are confident that Live! will rejuvenate the struggling city where the median household income falls below $50K and urban decay is widespread. 

 

Prospective Advancements 

If voters in Petersburg support Live! Casino & Hotel Virginia, the developers have significant aspirations once the casino resort becomes operational. Cordish and Smith announce plans to invest an additional $800 million in the next ten years after gaming starts to develop a nongaming hotel, office areas, shopping facilities, and living spaces at the site. 

The developers predict that the Live! mixed-use development will provide a $2.8 billion economic boost in the property's initial 10 years. Cordish has committed to providing a typical compensation package, inclusive of benefits, of $70K for each full-time resort employee. 

In contrast to Richmond, where wealthy areas swayed the vote against the gaming initiative, Petersburg is believed to be far more favorable towards its casino referendum. Nonetheless, no public polling has occurred regarding the gaming issue.