- Roanoke has partnered with a Virginia lobbying agency
- The consulting deal is to advertise Roanoke for a on line casino
- Ronaoke’s state representatives are largely towards a on line casino
A Virginia lobbying agency is being paid $6,000 a month to spearhead an effort to convey a on line casino resort to Roanoke.
A classic painted brick signal welcomes individuals to Roanoke. The Virginia metropolis has contracted a lobbying agency to make its case for a on line casino license. (Picture: Getty)
As On line casino.org has been reporting, the Roanoke Metropolis Council has been exploring whether or not to affix Norfolk, Portsmouth, Bristol, Danville, and Petersburg in being host on line casino cities. The Virginia Common Meeting would wish to go laws to designate Roanoke for slot machines, desk video games, and sports activities betting.
With no state lawmaker who represents Roanoke reportedly eager on championing town’s gaming effort, Roanoke has contracted Virginia lobbying agency Two Capitols Consulting to search out keen lawmakers. Richmond-based Two Capitols is a small lobbying group that claims to have expertise in quite a few sectors, together with gaming.
The lobbying contract was disclosed by way of an open information request. The phrases have been signed on September 22, roughly three weeks earlier than it got here to mild that the Roanoke Metropolis Council was mulling a on line casino.
Roanoke On line casino Proposal
Roanoke metropolis officers recommend that getting a on line casino concession from the state and permitting the gaming facility on the Berglund Heart would revitalize the Star Metropolis. The native tax cash generated by the on line casino resort would go a good distance in funding the projected $25 million the sector will want in upgrades and upkeep over the subsequent decade, metropolis officers say.
The Two Capitols contract stipulates that the agency’s lobbyists will work with the incoming Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D) administration to advocate for on line casino growth.
Help with all legislative, price range, and regulatory features of a particular financial growth challenge” in Roanoke, the phrases embody. Two Capitols may even “present strategic recommendation and counsel on all legislative and administrative issues of significance to the Metropolis of Roanoke with reference to a particular financial growth challenge.”
Two Capitols’ “companies to be offered” avoids utilizing the time period “on line casino.”
Maybe most critically within the consulting pact is that Two Capitols will support Roanoke in “constructing and strengthening relationships with key elected Virginia state officers and their staffs.” That course of, the lobbying group says, includes “educating” lawmakers on the particular financial growth challenge.
Referendum Requirement
Other than town council, few have come out in assist of a on line casino in Roanoke. This week, space residents used the final council assembly of the 12 months to current their opposition to gaming. Roanoke’s state lawmakers have additionally spoken towards the council’s on line casino consideration.
Virginia’s 2020 gaming legislation requires that voters in a chosen on line casino metropolis have the ultimate say on whether or not a gaming growth is permitted. A easy majority assist is required earlier than the Virginia Lottery Board, which regulates casinos within the commonwealth, can grant a gaming license.
“[Virginia] shall not grant any preliminary license to function a gaming operation in an eligible host metropolis till a referendum on the query of whether or not on line casino gaming shall be permitted in such metropolis is authorised by the voters of such metropolis,” the statute reads.
