Several years ago, in 2018, residents in Arkansas voted in favor of an amendment to the state’s constitution that proposed casino gambling expansion. Per the amendment, casinos would be established in Crittenden, Jefferson, Garland and Pope Counties. By now, all counties have already established their casinos with the exception of Pope County, where the fourth casino license was tangled in a legal dispute that is still ongoing.

In light of the ongoing legal battle, the Arkansas Racing Commission (ARC), the gambling regulator in the state, confirmed its plans to revise casino rules with the ultimate goal of settling the dispute once and for all. This revision is expected to restart the application process under new guidelines, ensuring that a suitable bidder is selected for the Pope County casino license.

Yet, not everyone agrees with the casino expansion. Local Voters in Charge, a group that opposes the casino expansion, seeks to repeal the efforts for casino gambling in Pope County. The group seeks to change Amendment 100 which voters in Arkansas approved back in 2018. Local Voters in Change proposes to repeal the text that focuses on Pope County: “The Arkansas Racing Commission shall award a casino license to a casino applicant for a casino to be located in Pope County within two miles of the city limits of the county seat.”

The group intends to achieve its goal via a referendum where voters would be asked to remove the aforementioned text. This is in opposition to the ongoing efforts of the ARC and instead of resolving the legal battle proposes to end the possibilities for a casino in Pope County. Still, considering that the process is expected to be completed via a referendum, this doesn’t guarantee a win for Local Voters in Charge.

Local Voters to Determine the Future of Casino Projects

Besides the aforementioned effort, the activist group seeks further changes that would guarantee local voters’ opinion is heard when it comes to casino gambling. Local Voters in Charge proposed local voters in different counties to give the final green light when it comes to casino projects.

The group supports the idea of organizing a countywide special election that would determine the outcome of proposed casino projects with voters supporting or rejecting such projects. This would otherwise put the matter in the hands of the voters, who would have the right to vote in favor or against casino projects under the proposed referendum from Local Voters in Charge.

To put up the two topics for a referendum, the group would need a green light from Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin’s office. Under the existing regulations, once the Attorney General greenlights the efforts, Local Voters in Charge would have to gather signatures from all counties equal to a minimum of 10% of the total votes from the last state governor election, representing nearly 91,000 signatures.

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Petersburg is once again placing its bet on a casino referendum, now landing on the legislative floor of the 2024 Virginia General Assembly. This time, the city is armed with influential backers and a revamped Senate Bill 628, seeking to redefine the criteria for the host city.

Senators Aird and Lucas Spearhead Key Changes in Casino Bill

While not explicitly earmarking Petersburg as the fifth casino host city, the bill, championed by newly appointed Sen. Lashrecse Aird, D-Petersburg, and Senate Finance & Appropriations Committee chair Louise Lucas, D-Portsmouth, proposes significant amendments to the host city requirements, reported The Progress-Index. 

Notably, the population threshold is discarded, and adjustments to tax-exempted real estate and poverty rate criteria are proposed. Additionally, a new stipulation mandates that the host city must have experienced an unemployment rate of at least 13% in 2020.

In 2020, Petersburg’s unemployment rate stood at a staggering 21.1%, aligning seamlessly with the newly introduced criterion. The inclusion of such factors aims to tailor the bill to Petersburg’s unique circumstances and economic needs.

Sen. Lucas, who previously opposed Petersburg’s casino ambitions, has surprisingly thrown her weight behind the latest effort. In an unexpected turn, she acknowledged that her past reservations were influenced, in part, by the approach of Sen. Joe Morrissey, whom Aird defeated in the Democratic primary last June.

Lucas, who chairs the influential Senate Finance & Appropriations Committee, had been a formidable obstacle in the prior two legislative sessions. Her support this time around significantly bolsters the casino’s chances. Lucas represents the district encompassing Rivers Casino in Portsmouth, one of the three operational casinos in the state.

Petersburg’s Casino Bid Gains Momentum After Facing Hurdles

The push for a Petersburg casino has been a recurring theme in recent years. Following Richmond’s rejection in 2021, Petersburg eagerly stepped into the fray but faced consecutive setbacks in the 2022 and 2023 legislative sessions. Morrissey and Del. Kim Taylor, R-Dinwiddie County, championed the cause unsuccessfully.

This year, Taylor has opted to lend her support to Senate Bill 628 rather than introducing a separate House companion. She emphasized the significance of consolidating efforts and conveyed that having a single introductory bill enables energies to be concentrated in one place on one bill. Taylor affirmed her commitment to ensuring that voters in the 82nd District have a voice in the matter.

The legislative journey for Senate Bill 628 mirrors past sessions, with hearings scheduled in the Senate General Laws & Technology Committee, chaired by Aird, and subsequently in Senate Finance & Appropriations, chaired by Lucas.

In a departure from previous proposals, the Aird-Lucas bill omits language favoring Native American tribes in Virginia. Norfolk‘s proposed HeadWaters Casino, supported by the Pamunkey tribe, will no longer receive preferred consideration.

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