- Roanoke has obtained a $75,000 present from an unnamed on line casino developer
- The Virginia metropolis continues to mull a on line casino effort on the state stage
The Metropolis of Roanoke in southwest Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains has accepted a $75,000 present from an unnamed on line casino developer. What the cash will probably be spent on isn’t being publicly disclosed.
The Amtrak Northeast Regional passenger practice prepares to depart the Roanoke Amtrak Station northbound on an early morning in November 2017. Roanoke metropolis officers are transferring ahead with their effort to overtake the city-owned Berglund Heart, with a on line casino part being thought of. (Picture: Getty)
The $75,000 fee, metropolis finance data present, was obtained on Jan. 27. The contribution got here from the on line casino developer that the Roanoke Metropolis Council signed a nondisclosure settlement with late final yr.
The Roanoke Rambler experiences that metropolis spokesperson Carol Corbin mentioned the $75,000 wouldn’t be spent on town’s lobbying contract with Two Capitals Consulting, the agency Roanoke employed in December at a charge of $6,000 a month to foyer state lawmakers to get behind the proposal to renovate the Berglund Heart right into a on line casino resort.
Corbin mentioned the NDA prevents town from detailing what the $75,000 will probably be spent on. Mayor Joe Cobb, nevertheless, mentioned the “cash can be utilized at our discretion,” with examples being a gaming market examine and a advertising and marketing marketing campaign to rally up assist for a on line casino.
Roanoke On line casino Odds Lengthy
A majority of the Roanoke Metropolis Council favors pushing the state for the chance to think about a on line casino improvement on the city-owned multipurpose area that’s in want of repairs and upgrades.
State lawmakers and Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D) would first have to move and signal laws to designate Roanoke as a doable on line casino host metropolis. From there, town would want to choose a on line casino developer and current the venture to voters by a neighborhood referendum.
If the poll query positive aspects majority assist, the Virginia Lottery Board, which regulates on line casino playing within the commonwealth, would be capable to grant the Roanoke on line casino a gaming license.
As On line casino.org has reported, the percentages aren’t good that Roanoke will develop into a chosen on line casino metropolis in 2026. Up to now, no state lawmaker within the area or wherever else within the state has gotten on board with championing a Roanoke on line casino invoice in Richmond.
Lawmakers appear extra intent on bringing a on line casino to Northern Virginia, presumably within the prosperous Tysons space in Fairfax County.
Lengthy-Time period Focus
Talking with CBS7, Cobb mentioned he acknowledges that 2026 won’t be the legislative yr for Roanoke’s on line casino.
“I’m not conscious that we’ve a patron for this, in order that’s at all times a primary vital step. However once more, that’s the place the relational work goes in. There could be choices for a patron to take this on in a subsequent yr. A few of these processes take a number of years to occur,” Cobb mentioned.
Whether or not there’s momentum on this session, whether or not we have to pause the work with the lobbyist… Lobbyists do vital work associated to constructing relationships and constructing on concepts. To get broad-based assist within the Common Meeting, we’d like folks to advocate for us,” Cobb defined.
Since Virginia’s authentic gaming invoice in 2020, solely Petersburg has been subsequently added. Town was earmarked for a on line casino after voters in Richmond twice rejected a on line casino referendum.