Three Richmond casino proposals move to the final selection process, other 3 rejected

The City of Richmond in Virginia announced on Wednesday that it has narrowed its field of bidders for a resort casino down to three finalists, rejecting the other three proposals. 

The three finalists are Bally’s Richmond Casino Resort, Live! Casino & Hotel Richmond and One Casino + Resort. The Pamunkey Indian Tribe, Golden Nugget Hotels & Casinos and Wind Creek Hospitality didn't make the cut due to concerns about site control, lack of organizational experience, the feasibility of financial projections, economic development impact and/or deficiency of the proposal, according to city officials.

The city’s announcement said the three finalists stood out because the operators provided strong proposals with detailed financial and operational analyses to support their vision for a resort casino in Richmond, WRIC reports.

Wind Creek Hospitality released the following statement Wednesday evening: “We are disappointed to learn that Wind Creek Hospitality will not be considered for the Richmond casino project. We strongly believe that Wind Creek sets itself apart from other operators by not only building casino resorts, but by building up the communities our properties are located within. We wish the best of luck to the other operators and to the city of Richmond as they continue through the selection process.”

Urban One CEO Alfred Liggins stated: “ONE is honored and excited to be selected as one of three finalists to develop a resort casino project in the city of Richmond. We are convinced our selection is based on having the absolute best location in an industrial area off Interstate 95 in South Richmond; having the most diverse group of more than 50 investors providing opportunity for minority ownership and wealth-building in the Richmond community; and offering the most robust amenities, including 50 acres of green space for Richmond to enjoy, a music venue and a first-class casino and hotel.”

Now that the choices are narrowed down, the next step is for the Evaluation Panel to begin negotiations with the bidders while continuing to engage the community. The city is hosting three virtual meetings next week where each of the top three operators will discuss their proposed projects, and give citizens a chance to ask questions directly. 

The meetings will be held on Microsoft Teams at 6 p.m. and are open to the public. Live! Casino and Hotel Richmond's one will be held March 30; One Casino + Resort on March 31; and Bally’s Richmond Casino Resort on April 1.

The chosen proposal will then be considered by the council and ultimately by city voters on the November ballot. The panel is expected to make its recommendation to City Council by late May or June.