In the upcoming November election, the residents of Danville may not solely be deciding on the expansion of gambling within their city. Instead, their vote could potentially determine the preference between having a casino or an off-track betting (OTB) site established.
Despite the potential failure of a referendum to approve a casino within the city, there is still a possibility that a developer might open such a business in Danville, as one has already expressed interest.
Declassifying the drama in Danville
Two aspects of this situation are guaranteed.
In November of this year, Danville residents will have the opportunity to vote on whether or not to allow the establishment of a new casino within the city.
If the measure is approved, Caesars Entertainment will definitely proceed with the casino development, as the city chose their bid over six other contenders.
Should it be approved, the Schoolfield neighborhood would be home to the casino. Caesars plans to invest over $400 million in constructing the establishment, which will feature a hotel, several dining options, convention facilities, a live entertainment stage, and a retail sportsbook.
The creation of 1,300 permanent jobs was included in the Caesars proposal. However, it remains uncertain if the winning bid will result in the operation of the Caesars online sportsbook in Virginia.
If Danville voters reject the proposal, the intriguing twist from one of the unsuccessful six may resurface.
A satellite wagering site at White Mill instead?
Danville considered a bid that included an operation allowing wagering on sporting events, which was made possible by VA’s recent gambling expansion law granting OTB sites the authorization to do so.
Peninsula Pacific Entertainment’s bid included a unique offer of opening a satellite wagering site in Danville if the referendum failed. This was the only bid among all the competitors that provided such a form of “insurance.”
Peninsula Pacific remains committed to Danville despite losing the contract to Caesars. In fact, the company may be patiently awaiting a future opportunity.
In an email to the Danville Register & Bee, spokesperson Mark Hubbard stated:
Peninsula Pacific Entertainment will closely observe the forthcoming referendum in Danville to understand the desires of the local community. Our future actions regarding the expansion of the gaming opportunity, which has already received approval from Danville voters, will be determined after the ballot results are obtained.
Peninsula Pacific has not made a firm commitment to establish an OTB in the event of the casino referendum’s failure. However, they do have a valid agreement with the city to acquire White Mill, which remains in effect until March 3, 2021.
While Danville, Virginia may not be considered a bustling metropolis, ranking only 29th among cities in the state in terms of population, its charm lies in its proximity to the North Carolina border, making it an appealing destination.
The central issue may not be whether people from North Carolina and Virginia can gather in Danville to gamble on sports events. The actual point of dispute might revolve around choosing between a Caesars casino in Schoolfield or a Peninsula Pacific OTB at White Mill for this purpose.
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