By Summer DeCiucis, VCU Capital News Service
RICHMOND, Va. — Petersburg residents overwhelmingly voted on Nov. 5 in support of a referendum to build Virginia’s fifth casino, something Richmond voters rejected twice at the polls.
As voters arrived at Petersburg High School to fulfill their civic duty, they were greeted by enthusiastic volunteers for the Live! Casino Resort.
Mamie Hamilton, a passionate volunteer and active community member, was one of the many smiling faces on Tuesday who provided voters with information on the project, and urged them to vote yes.
“I think it’s the greatest event that could ever happen to Petersburg,” Hamilton said.
Financial improvement is the top reason voters should support the casino, according to Hamilton. The money brought in could be used toward the current needs in Petersburg.
“We’d be able to get our roads, our streets fixed,” Hamilton said.
The referendum would bring more than $2.8 billion in economic benefits, $240 million in incremental revenue and 7,500 jobs in its first 10 years, according to the project overview.
Michael Packer, a lifelong Petersburg native and current member of the city’s Economic Development Authority, has worked on this project for the past three years. For Packer, the impact the casino will have on the city’s government resources is one of the most important factors.
“It’s a one-third increase in revenues for the city to pay for police, fire, streets and schools,” Packer said. “To cause citizens to be able to have the kind of government they need, right now we don’t have the resources that will do that.”
Voting yes on the referendum was far less contentious than in Richmond. The proposal had majority support across each precinct, according to the Virginia Public Access Project.
Lord Opoku, Virginia State University student and first-time voter, believes the casino will have a positive local impact.
“I mean why not,” Opoku said. “Petersburg is like a small town, I feel like it will attract and bring more people to the town.”
Opoku, who voted with a provisional ballot, said he was undecided initially, but cast his vote for Harris. He feels like he made the right decision and looks forward to the “massive change” the next president will bring.
Like many, Consuela Walker had concerns about the public safety aspect of the casino, something that was also discussed in Richmond, but she was persuaded due to the economical gain.
“At first I was like, in Petersburg they’re going to put a casino, that’ll just bring more violence,” Walker said. “Then I thought about it, and the casino itself will bring jobs for people.”
The casino is projected to be built at the intersection of Wagner Road and Interstate I-95, and will also have a 200-room hotel, an event center and several dining options, according to the project’s website.
There are three casinos currently operational in the state, the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Bristol, Caesars in Danville and River’s Casino in Portsmouth. Boyd Gaming Corp. and the Pamunkey Indian Tribe will open a Norfolk casino resort in 2027.