Along with opening a campaign office last week to persuade Petersburg voters to approve a casino in the city, the “VOTE YES! Live! Casino Resort” Referendum Campaign group has launched a website proclaiming a hope-filled slogan: “I Believe in Petersburg.”
The group’s website declares: “It’s time to bring jobs, economic development and tax revenues to Petersburg.” That’s the main point that campaign co-chairs Ja’Scotta Jefferson and Preston A. Page hope to drive home to voters.
Petersburg residents will decide in November if they want a new Live! casino in their city.
Plan is to start with a temporary casino
Virginia lawmakers originally approved five cities that could house casinos in the commonwealth. Petersburg was not one of them. However, after Richmond voters twice rejected a proposal to build a casino in the capital city, Petersburg was awarded a chance to ask its citizens to approve a casino.
Virginia online casinos remain illegal, although online casino play is possible through sweepstakes and social casinos. They use virtual currenciess and offer cash prizes.
Should Petersburg voters approve the plan – a joint proposal from Bruce Smith Enterprise and The Cordish Companies the city chose earlier this year in a contentious closed-door process – the partners would immediately begin constructing a temporary casino to open next year.
The plan is to then start building the permanent Live! Casino & Hotel Virginia. Two other casinos in Virginia took that route: the Hard Rock in Bristol and Caesars Virginia in Danville.
Group touting economic benefits of casino
The group says a “Yes” vote for the casino is a vote for good-paying jobs, better schools, and a prosperous Petersburg.
The partners predict that, in the first 10 years of the project, it will generate:
– $2.8 billion in economic stimulus to Petersburg.
– $504 million in tax revenues, including $240 million to Petersburg.
– $802 million in economic benefit during construction.
– $201 million in annual economic impact each year after opening.
– Over 7,500 new construction and permanent jobs, the latter having an average compensation of $70,000 with benefits.
Petersburg Mayor Sam Parham has said the referendum was “a multi-year effort to go all in for new and better schools, all in on great paying jobs for Petersburg residents, all in for safer communities, all in for creating a better quality of life for all Petersburg citizens and all in to bring people from around the world to experience what makes Petersburg such a special place.”
Zed Smith, COO of The Cordish Companies, said the company wants to provide as much information as possible about its casino plans to voters.
“We are committed to ensuring that every voter in Petersburg has the facts they need to make an informed decision. We believe that a ‘Yes’ vote for the casino referendum is a vote for a brighter future for Petersburg, and we encourage all residents to visit our new office to learn more about the transformative impact this project will have on the community.”
The office’s grand opening on Aug. 15 was designed for proponents to spread the word, with T-shirts, buttons, and yard signs at the ready.
