Virginia: Norfolk casino developers launch referendum campaign

With just over two months until Election Day, voters in Virginia’s Norfolk and Portsmouth will vote on referendums to approve casinos being built in their cities.

Norfolk has partnered with the Pamunkey Indian Tribe to build a casino near Harbor Park. "This $500 million project will be part of a long recovery from one of the greatest hits to the economy of our lifetime," said Pamunkey Chief Robert Gray on Monday morning during a press conference at a kickoff event for the All In for Norfolk Casino Committee, a group formed with the goal of persuading the majority of city voters to vote “Yes” on the tribe’s project on November 3.

Earlier this year, the General Assembly legalized casino gambling in five localities in Virginia, including Norfolk and Portsmouth. Voters in the cities have the final say on approving the casinos. "Our city will potentially benefit from millions of dollars in new tax revue that will be committed to public education," said Norfolk Mayor Kenny Alexander, as reported by WTKR.

The City of Portsmouth also wants to move forward with a casino near Tidewater Community College. Their partner is Rush Street Gaming. Chief Gray thinks both could work. "If there's only one, that one casino would be able to forecast greater revenue, but that doesn't deter me from saying we can both exist," he said.

A new video campaign is being launched to highlight the benefits the community could see as a part of the casino. The Pamunkey Tribe has already contributed $210,500 to two separate committees supporting the campaign, “Yes Norfolk Referendum Committee” and “Yes Norfolk PAC.” Golden Eagle Consulting II LLC, the tribe’s development partner backed by billionaire Jon Yarbrough, has also started a PAC, but there are no donations as of the last report from the Virginia Department of Elections.

“We’ll be out there making sure the people of Norfolk know about this great project, the benefits it will bring to the city, and why they should be all in for the Norfolk Resort and Casino,” Gray said, WAVY reports. Gray also announced the tribe is contributing $150,000 in financing to help bring a grocery store to the St. Paul's area. 

The Pamunkey Tribe says the resort will feature 3,000 slots, 150 table games, a 300-room full-service hotel, steak and seafood restaurant, sports bar and grill, cafe, spa and 2,500-seat entertainment venue.

The city is expected to bring in $26 to $31 million in gaming- and sales-related taxes from the casino project — as well as an estimated 6.2 million casino visitors each year — and create 2,000-plus construction jobs and about 2,500 full-time jobs. Money from the land sale will go toward improving two Norfolk public schools, while state tax revenue will be funneled for new school construction.