Several Virginia casino bills made their way through the State Senate’s General Laws and Technology Committee on Wednesday. 

One bill, SB 541, would remove Richmond as a designated eligible host city for a casino. The bill passed through the committee by a 15-0 vote in support of the bill. Casino referendums in Richmond failed in 2021 and 2023, with the margin of failure increasing in 2023 despite an extensive — and expensive — campaign run by casino stakeholders. 

Another bill, SB 628, would replace Richmond with Petersburg on the list of designated casino host cities. SB 675 adds Fairfax County as a designated host location, and the bill sponsor has suggested he’d like a casino in Tysons. Both of those bills passed through committee. 

The debate over which location, if any, should replace Richmond as a designated casino host city is expected to intensify in the coming weeks. 

Existing casinos

Currently, three Virginia cities are home to operational casinos. Those cities are Bristol, Danville, and Portsmouth, and each of the three properties generated more than $14 million in adjusted gaming revenue in December. 

Norfolk voters also passed a referendum for a casino, and city officials are in discussions with the Pamunkey Indian Tribe to get the casino built.

Legislators pushing for casinos in their jurisdictions are hopeful the brick-and-mortar gaming expansion could lead to new jobs and increased tax revenue in their area. Virginia currently allows for online sports betting, but online casinos are illegal in the state. 

Slot-like skill games are also illegal in the state, although some small businesses and legislators are pushing for those activities to become legal and regulated. 

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