The Virginia General Assembly passed on Saturday night compromise casino legislation that would that would enable and require a local referendum on casino gaming in Danville but not before completion of a study on casino gaming by the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission, according to various media reports.
Media also report the following:
- The Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission must be present the study and make recommendations by Nov. 1.
- The General Assembly must re-enact the legislation for the referenda provisions during its next session in 2020.
- If re-enacted, select localities — including Danville, Bristol, and Portsmouth — would have the authority to hold a local referendum to allow casino gaming in their city. No referenda may occur before the publication of the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission’s findings and recommendations regarding casino gaming under the second enactment of the act, and no referendum shall be held after Jan. 1, 2021.
- If a local voter referendum to allow casino gaming is successful, only one license for casino gaming can be issued per city by the state.
- The compromise legislation — substitute Senate Bill 1126 — puts the Virginia Lottery Board in charge of regulating the new industry.
- The bill specifies the licensing requirements for casino gaming and imposes criminal and civil penalties for violations of the casino gaming law.
- Casino gaming would be limited to certain cities that meet the criteria outlined in the bill. Danville is one of those cities.
The Virginia Senate approved the bill with a vote of 30-10; and the House, 64-33. The bill must be signed by the governor.