The pace at which Virginia casino regulations move forward from this point onward rests on the shoulders of a governor who is nearing the end of their term. The Virginia Lottery has fulfilled its responsibility by establishing a set of regulations to steer the upcoming industry.
Although the Lottery lacks optimism regarding current Gov. Ralph Northam taking action on the matter before his departure from office, there is promising news for individuals residing in four VA cities eagerly anticipating the presence of casinos in their localities. However, for the residents of Bristol, not all of the news brings positivity.
Virginia casino regulations moving on
The VA Lottery board has approved advancing a set of proposed permanent casino regulations on Wednesday. These regulations will eventually replace the emergency rules that were authorized by the same board back in February.
Currently, the completion of the approval process necessitates the governor of the state to give their consent. Following this, there will be a 60-day comment period before a final approval vote is conducted. The timeframe for the entire process is presently uncertain.
Bianca Marais from WJHL suggests that Virginians should not expect immediate approval. Instead, the board predicts that final approval will likely be delayed until May 2022. The reason behind this delay is the Lottery’s anticipation of the next governor’s involvement in the approval process.
Amy Dilworth, General Counsel for the VA Lottery, expressed her hope for a smooth transition and minimal disruptions during the administration change in mid-January when the new governor assumes office. She acknowledged the uncertainty regarding the duration of the transition due to factors such as the concurrent general assembly session and the absence of a specific deadline for the governor.
The Lottery believes that the rules should be subjected to scrutiny by the governor, irrespective of the person holding the position in the upcoming term.
“The Virginia Lottery’s Gaming Compliance Department and Office of General Counsel have been working diligently to establish a regulatory and licensing structure that guarantees the security and transparency of casino gaming in Virginia,” remarked Kevin Hall, Executive Director of the Virginia Lottery. “In this capacity, we view the Lottery as the public’s guardian, ensuring compliance with laws and regulations while safeguarding the integrity of casino gambling.”
The Lottery can begin reviewing license applications from casino partners in four VA cities while these rules are pending further clearance. Among these cities, Bristol might experience the most excruciating wait.
Lottery ready to dig into casino applications
Even though the application period officially started in April, the Lottery has been occupied with finalizing the regulations until recently. Presently, the Lottery has hired 22 investigators who will evaluate casino license applications.
The casino partners in Bristol, Danville, Norfolk, and Portsmouth are expected to provide them with the complete amount soon. The gambling companies collaborating with these municipalities include:
- Caesars Entertainment – Danville
- Hard Rock – Bristol
- The Norfolk branch of the Pamunkey Indian Tribe.
- Portsmouth – Rush Street Gaming
The duration of license approvals remains uncertain, but it appears that this should not impact the upcoming referendum on a Richmond casino. The Lottery has reaffirmed its expectation for Richmond voters to participate in the November polls regarding this matter.
If the Lottery board accurately predicts the time required to finalize rules, there is no need to rush the application processing. Despite having licenses, these casinos will not be able to commence gambling activities until the regulations are officially finalized.
Consequently, the possibility of a Bristol-based Hard Rock “mini-casino” opening in the near future appears to be fading away. Initially, the Seminole Tribe brand had plans to establish a temporary establishment later this year. However, as the process has progressed, the likelihood of this happening has diminished.
Fortunately, the completion of this stage of the process brings some positive news. Despite the fact that construction on these casinos may not commence until the middle of next year, it is now one step closer to becoming a reality.
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