Baltimore’s Cordish Cos. got approval from Virginia voters on Tuesday to expand into Petersburg, Virginia, with a $1.4 billion casino resort.
The Live Casino Resort is planned for 92 acres near Richmond and will be co-developed with a firm led by NFL Hall of Famer Bruce Smith. Under state law, voters had to approve a casino at the site for the project to proceed, and the referendum passed Tuesday night with more than 80% of the vote.
“We are deeply gratified by the community’s affirmation of this project and very hopeful about the meaningful impact it will have on the city’s future,” Smith said, in a statement on Wednesday. “The casino will not only create good-paying jobs for our residents but will also attract visitors statewide and beyond, stimulating local businesses and in turn producing an overall ripple effect of economic growth.”
Virginia lawmakers approved gaming in the state in 2020. Since then, casinos have opened in Bristol, Danville and Portsmouth. A $750 million casino is being developed in Norfolk and is expected to open in late 2027.
