The choice of the Richmond Authorities to not maintain one other bidding process for the one on line casino growth alternative within the capital metropolis could have authorized penalties. Lately, a outstanding lawyer and political activist within the state of Virginia revealed that he’s making ready authorized motion to problem that call.
Paul Goldman, who in 1990 turned the primary particular person of colour to function Governor of Virginia, believes that the Mayor of Richmond – Levar Stoney – and the Metropolis Council each didn’t adjust to the Virginia Public Procurement Act, which requires state and native Governments to prepare and maintain aggressive bidding processes when searching for companions or distributors for a sure financial growth challenge.
In 2021 Richmond authorities didn’t maintain the required bidding process for its on line casino license. As beforehand reported by CasinoGamesPro, Richmond was one of many 5 cities (together with Danville, Norfolk, Bristol, and Portsmouth) that certified to host a on line casino license underneath the provisions of state laws that enables these cities to contemplate establishing a on line casino as an extra supply of funds. Below the present legislative framework, on line casino venues can solely be permitted after receiving the mandatory native assist of native voters as a part of a poll referendum on the matter.
Two years in the past, the residents of Richmond narrowly rejected the challenge for the greater than $500-million on line casino and resort referred to as One On line casino + Resort by a 51% to 49% vote. Since then Levar Stoney and most of Richmond Metropolis Council have since sought to as soon as once more ask native voters about their opinions on the challenge, hoping {that a} extra coherent message selling the potential financial advantages that the institution of such a on line casino resort would have for the area.
Richmond Officers Chosen City One as Their Most well-liked On line casino Resort Developer in 2021
In 2021, Richmond officers chosen the on line casino resort bid of the media conglomerate City One in partnership with on line casino operator Peninsula Pacific Leisure over the tasks of their opponents, together with The Cordish Corporations, Bally’s, and the Golden Nugget. In response to metropolis officers, the City One plan was most well-liked as a result of it represented the primary Black-owned business on line casino within the US.
As CasinoGamesPro reported, the efforts of the Richmond Metropolis Council to carry a second referendum on the proposed on line casino challenge in 2022 failed, just about as a result of the state provision authored by Senator Joe Morrissey was primarily centered on the state’s finances. After Morrissey was defeated in the course of the Democratic major that passed off earlier in 2023, there have been no extra efforts searching for to stop Richmond authorities from turning to its voters and asking them for his or her opinion on the proposed on line casino enterprise for a second time.
A few months in the past, Richmond Metropolis Council voted 8 to 1 in favor of the on line casino referendum development as a part of the November 2023 poll. The referendum re-establishes the partnership between the town and City One, though the corporate has modified its growth companions.
In response to Paul Goldman, the town was required to conduct one other aggressive bidding course of as a result of each the Virginia Procurement Act and the State Structure goal at stopping such “sweetheart” offers.
