Danville, Virginia Invites Casino Construction Proposals, Pending Approval from State Legislators and Public Vote on Gambling Legislation
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Posted on: December 4, 2019, 09:55h.Last updated on: December 5, 2019, 08:14h.
Let's Roll the Dice: City Gambles on Casino Business
It's a fancy proposal with big bucks at stake—Danville, Virginia, is on the hunt for enterprising partners to help establish a casino in town. City officials issued a call for submissions on December 2nd, with responses due by January 13th.
Danville could be one of the lucky five Virginia towns to secure a casino if the state's lawmakers give the green light during their next legislative session, which begins next year. While this year saw a bill officially green-lit, it included a re-enactment provision meaning the bill will need to be voted on again in 2020 for it to become law.
In the legislative shuffle, the big question looms – tax rate. When lawmakers debate gaming next year, they're expected to hammer out the state's take on casino revenues.
Should the casino bill survive the re-enactment hurdle, the selected cities will hold local referendums to allow citizens to decide on casino establishments. These votes are likely scheduled for the fall of 2020. City Manager Ken Larking mentioned that the incoming proposals will help city leaders determine how to implement casino gaming should the opportunity present itself, ultimately helping voters make an informed decision.
As of now, the town council has yet to take an official stance on the casino question. Besides Danville, other possible cities in the running for a casino are Bristol, Norfolk, Portsmouth, and Richmond.
Consulting the Big Shots:
Danville already enlisted the expertise of Convergence Strategy Group, a New Orleans-based consulting group, to assess the feasibility of both a casino or a historical horse racing parlor in the city. The city approved pari-mutuel betting in a referendum last month.
Convergence weighed the potential of both a resort casino and a smaller casino. A resort casino packing 2,500 slot machines, 10 table games, and at least 325 hotel rooms could potentially generate up to $363.4 million in gross gaming revenues by 2022, creating nearly 2,400 jobs. However, this estimate assumes North Carolina doesn't pursue casino gaming in the near future.
In Danville's call for proposals, they insist on a minimum investment of $200 million from potential developers. The request also allows for bidders to submit up to two casino sites, ideally one of them being a city-owned property, such as an old textile plant situated on the Dan River.
City Manager Larking expects multiple companies to show interest, so they'll be scrutinizing proposals on various factors, such as experience, job creation, and additional amenities. Convergence will assist city officials in evaluating the bids.
Little Danville: A Hometown with Florida Fever?
Danville straddles the North Carolina state line, boasting a population of around 42,000. Located in a rural part of Virginia, the casino's main draw might come from across the state line, as four of North Carolina's five largest cities are within approximately 70 miles of Danville. Greensboro, Durham, Winston-Salem, and Raleigh are all within striking distance.
Enrichment Insights:- According to recent reports, open casinos in neighboring cities such as Bristol (Hard Rock Casino) and Portsmouth (Rivers Casino) have reported revenues of $19.7 million and $24.28 million, respectively, as of early 2025. Danville's Caesars Virginia casino, which opened in December 2024, has outpaced these figures with significant revenue of $31.14 million in February 2025 alone, generating considerable tax income for the city.- Some of the tax revenues are foreseen to be allocated towards offsetting utility rate increases for city residents, as per proposed ordinances for the 2025 fiscal year.- Beyond the financial aspects, the emergence of casinos in these cities has stirred discussions about optimal tax rates and the most effective use of casino revenues, including measures like utility bill credits for residents.
- Danville, Virginia, is seeking partners to establish a casino worth at least $200 million, following a call for submissions issued on December 2nd.
- If Virginia lawmakers approve, Danville could be one of five cities to host a casino by next year, with the possibility of referendums in the fall of 2020.
- A potential resort casino in Danville could generate up to $363.4 million in gross gaming revenues by 2022, creating nearly 2,400 jobs, according to the Convergence Strategy Group.
- The proposed casino in Danville could potentially attract a large number of visitors from North Carolina cities like Greensboro, Durham, Winston-Salem, and Raleigh.
- Should Danville succeed in establishing a casino, part of the tax revenue may be used to offset utility rate increases for city residents, as proposed in ordinances for the 2025 fiscal year.