Latest articles
Tysons Casino Bill Dies in Committee, But Sponsor Aims to Restart Debate
The effort to build Virginia’s fifth and final retail casino in Tysons is dead for now. A bill before the Senate Committee on Finance and Appropriations that would have allowed Fairfax County’s Board of Supervisors to put the question to voters on an upcoming ballot failed to emerge from committee. Still, despite the latest speedbump, […]
Construction Begins for HeadWaters Casino & Resort in Norfolk, Virginia, After Long Delays
Construction is finally underway on HeadWaters Casino & Resort, a long-awaited gambling destination in Norfolk, Virginia. It’s been four years since voters approved the project, and for a time, there were questions about whether it would ever get off the ground. However, the Pamunkey Indian Tribe, which received the license, found a new development partner, […]
Tysons Casino Proposal Earns Support From Coalition of Virginia Labor Unions
A proposal to build Virginia’s fifth retail casino in Tysons, on the outskirts of Washington, D.C., is getting support from a coalition of the state’s labor unions. The newly formed Fairfax County Jobs Coalition sent several dozen members to rally in front of the Fairfax County Government Center on Tuesday, Oct. 22, during a Board […]
SVPGC, a New South Virginia Organization, Aims to Raise Local Awareness on Problem Gambling
As part of a statewide effort to tackle gambling addiction, three South Virginia organizations have joined forces to create the Southern Virginia Problem Gambling Cooperative (SVPGC). Together, they plan to serve the region and educate residents about the dangers of problem gambling. The three parties to the SVPGC are: Danville-Pittsylvania Community Services Board Southside Behavioral […]
Virginia Lawmakers Aim to Create Unified Gaming Regulatory Agency By 2027
In November, Virginia lawmakers will meet to decide whether the state needs a unified gaming regulator, a job currently performed by the Virginia Lottery. The state legislature passed a bill in April 2020 calling for the licensing and construction of five retail casinos, three of which have at least temporary locations now operating. The new body, the Virginia […]
Virginia Online Instant Lottery Wagers Now Exceed Retail Sales
Virginia is one of the more recent US states to have launched an iLottery, but its online sales already exceed the retail channel. The Virginia Lottery’s preliminary numbers for fiscal year 2024 indicate $5.52 billion in total sales for fiscal year 2024. Although it has not yet released its annual report, the Lottery Post reports that over $3 billion of that came through […]
Rivers Casino Portsmouth Struggles With Access Points Has Cost It $820,000 in Its First Year
Virginia’s only permanent casino, Rivers Portsmouth, has agreed to pay over half a million dollars for failing to control its entry points and allowing underage and voluntarily self-excluded persons to enter the casino floor. The Virginia Lottery, which oversees gaming in the state, has negotiated a settlement with the casino, owned by Rush Street Gaming, […]
Hard Rock Virginia—Bristol Resort ‘Not Delayed’ But Won’t Open in July, Aiming For Later in 2024
Hard Rock’s permanent casino resort in Bristol, Virginia, won’t open next month, the company revealed last week. It hasn’t committed to a new opening date but has obtained a six-month extension from the Virginia Lottery Board, which regulates the state’s new retail casinos. That implies an opening in January 2025 at the latest, but more likely in […]
Virginia Governor Vetoes Skill Games Bill — Override Unlikely
A May 17 gubernatorial veto of Virginia’s skill games bill means the machines remain illegal. The veto will likely stay in place because lawmakers in the House don’t appear to have the required two-thirds majority to overturn it. So, Gov. Glenn Youngkin‘s decision means the law surrounding the unregulated machines will remain in place. That […]
Controversial Selection of Cordish for Petersburg Casino is Bad News for Virginia’s iGaming Potential
Petersburg’s pick of Cordish Companies to build Virginia’s fifth retail casino has raised concerns among lawmakers and stakeholders. After the city selected the $1.4 billion project over four others, questions arose regarding the integrity of the selection process and the speed with which the decision was made. Cordish gaining market access to Virginia may also […]