Indian Tribe Eyes Norfolk For First Virginia Casino LocationTribe Says $700 Million Casino Resort Would Offer Slots, Table Games and Poker |
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Virginia’s first casino could soon be headed to Norfolk, according to plans from the Pamunkey Indian Tribe. The tribe, which owns about 1,200 acres of land outside of Richmond, is eyeing a plot near the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay, between a minor league baseball stadium and an Amtrak terminal.
The $700-million project was initially rumored to be setting up shop an hour north in New Kent, but a tribe spokesman stated that location could be saved for future developments.
Virginia does not currently have any casinos, nor have they authorized any. However, the Pamunkey Tribe was granted special federal recognition in 2015 by the Department of the Interior, which means they can build on their own land without state approval. The project will still need to be vetted by the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
Although Virginia does not currently have any full-fledged casinos, the state does offer pari-mutuel betting on horse races, bingo, and a lottery.
Earlier this year, a report surfaced that one group was trying to sway local lawmakers in the city of Bristol to allow a casino to be built inside an abandoned 450,000 sq. ft. shopping mall.
Legislators are also considering legalizing sports betting, with two bills already scheduled for debate in 2019. Proponents suggest that the state could see a betting handle as high as $5.2 billion, bringing in approximately $380 million in gaming revenue.
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