Casino Gambling And Sports Betting Bill Pre-Filed In VirginiaRepublican Delegate Barry Knight Pre-Filed HB 4 Monday As Next Step From SB 1126 |
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A Virginia lawmaker is getting a head start on the 2020 legislative sessions by pre-filing a bill that would continue the fight to expand gambling in the state.
Republican Delegate Barry D. Knight pre-filed HB 4 Monday, which would amend the current Code of Virginia and legalize sports betting and casino gambling within the state’s borders.
Gov. Ralph Northam signed SB 1126 into law last March. The law forced a commission to study casino gambling in other states and the effects it had on the local communities, both economically and socially. It also stated that lawmakers must revisit the issue in 2020 before ground is broken on any casino.
Knight’s proposed legislation is the revisiting of the issue. It would force a local referendum before a casino could be built or sports betting legalized in any municipality, giving citizens of the area final say on the gambling issue.
The cities of Portsmouth, Danville and Bristol have already expressed interest in building a casino in their cities, while the Pamunkey Tribe is looking to build one in Norfolk and Richmond.
According to a report from The Virginian-Pilot, Portsmouth officials have already hired Rush Street Gaming to research and develop a casino if the voters pass legislation. As soon as lawmakers legalize casinos, the city will sell the land for the proposed casino to Rush Street at $400,000 per acre with a minimum $10 million price tag for the whole lot.
The bill offers very few specifics. It re-establishes the Virginia Lottery Board as the regulatory body for the industry and forces operators to spend at least $200 million on their facilities. It also doesn’t speed up the process as Virginia is still several years away from an operational casino.
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