Richmond to select casino operator, site in summer 2021

Public survey opens Tuesday; RFPs due in February 2021

Published December 1, 2020 by Sydney Lake

The city of Richmond intends to select a resort casino site and operator in summer 2021, according to an announcement from Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney released Tuesday.

The Virginia General Assembly earlier this year passed a law authorizing resort casinos to operate in each of five economically challenged cities, including Richmond. For the project to go forward, Richmond city government must select a single preferred casino operator and location. Richmond has said it will use a request for proposals (RFP) process to select the operator. Then city voters must grant approval for the proposal in a Nov. 2, 2021, referendum.

Voters in Bristol, Danville, Norfolk and Portsmouth overwhelmingly approved casinos in referendums held during the November 2020 elections.

Starting Tuesday, Dec. 1, Richmonders can take an online survey to provide input on the potential casino resort in Richmond. The survey will be open until 11:59 p.m. on Dec. 14.

“A competitive selection process will allow us to assess the best opportunity for Richmond,” Stoney said in a statement. “This survey is your opportunity to make sure the development proposals reflect your priorities, such as living-wage jobs, sustainable building practices and investment in the community.”

Survey results will be used to inform a request for qualifications/proposals (RFQ/P) document, which will initiate the process to select the operator and site for the casino. The RFP process will open in late December and remain open until February 2021.

“Our primary objective is to identify a successful proposal that has outstanding economic opportunities and community benefits for Richmonders,” Richmond Director of Economic Development Leonard Sledge said in a statement. “We anticipate receiving multiple submissions, and we want to put a process in place to identify an operator and site that results in a true win for Richmond.”