The issue was controversial in Richmond, where voters still hold doubts about the developers’ promises and the benefits of a casino to the local community. The General Assembly in 2020 passed legislation legalizing casino gambling in a bid to lift struggling economies. So one might argue that physical casinos are going to only face increased competition over the coming years.' “And the trend right now in Virginia and across the United States is to increase gambling alternatives, not decrease. ”We always have to think towards the future in terms of where the competition is,” said Robert McNab, director of the Dragas Center for Economic Analysis and Policy at Old Dominion University. 24, found that 44% of likely voters supported building a casino, 44% opposed and 12% were unsure.
A recent Founders Insight poll conducted between Sept.
7 referendum for Richmond voters will decide how – or if – the gambling industry will grow in the state. But the optimistic projections continue to be met with skepticism from staunch opponents and economists, as another Virginia casino struggles to launch and returns on similar developments across the country have produced mixed results.
