The opening of ONE Casino and Resort in Richmond, Virginia has been postponed until October 2024.
Richmond’s ONE Casino Postponed to 2024
Richmond’s ONE Casino + Resort opening has been delayed until October 1, 2024. The news was announced by the city’s economic development director, Leonard L. Sledge, at the City Council’s Organizational Development Committee meeting on Monday. According to Sledge, this is a reasonable delay, adding that the awarding of the license for operating in the city is a matter of the state. He said, “The one factor that is not under our control is the Virginia Lottery.”
The casino would welcome its first players by the end of 2024, instead of December 2023, as previously planned. The customers of ONE Casino will be able to try their luck at craps, slot machines, roulette and blackjack.
The committee included the new timeline for two ordinances up for approval at the next committee meeting on Monday, July 12.
The luxury hotel, part of ONE Casino + Resort, is also postponed until October 1, 2025. That is when it will show off to its first guests its 250 luxurious rooms, a year after the opening of One casino. The project could have a green light if Richmond voters allow such a dynamic gambling scene in the city.
Rosie’s Gaming Emporium Is the Only Gambling Venue in Town
Currently, Rosie’s Gaming Emporium in South Side is the only legitimate gambling venue in the Richmond area, other than those selling the state’s lottery options.
The only committee member who showed concern about the development of ONE Casino and the developer’s agreement with Richmond was 8th District Councilwoman Reva M. Trammell. Before this, she was a supporter of a project proposed that was proposed for a nearby location. Now, she isn’t sure how her South Side area would benefit from it. She also disagreed with the new timeline.
The State Lottery Would Grant Preliminary Approval
The state Lottery has to grant preliminary approval for the casino developer and site. After that, the project development will go for a vote on a referendum, where the city residents can have a say. The project developers expect the green light at the end of July or in early August. If voters decide to greenlight the project in the November 2 elections, RVA Entertainment will turn to the Lottery for a $15 million check and documentation. The Lottery will then have up to 12 months to decide if it will grant the company operation licenses.
If everything goes according to plan and Richmond residents approve the site and the developer, the Lottery will decide whether to grant the operator a license. The state’s agency regulates the five new casinos, approved by the General Assembly in Danville, Bristol, Norfolk, Portsmouth, and Richmond.
Richmond chose RVA Entertainment Holdings LLC., a subsidiary of Urban One, the largest Black-owned media company in the country. Urban One is known for its radio stations, such as Power 92.1 and 99.3 and 105.7 Kiss FM in Richmond.