On election day, Virginia, Arkansas, and Missouri residents made decisions that would influence the future of gaming in their states.
While the scenic Ozarks and the people of Pope County, Arkansas, appear to have passed on the opportunity to boost their economy and attract new visitors, the people of Petersburg, Virginia, have enthusiastically said "Yes" to the chance.
Let’s take a closer look at how the votes went.
Casino License Repealed in Arkansas
Arkansas voters passed a constitutional amendment mandating that new casinos in the state receive approval through a countywide special election.
This amendment also repeals an existing casino license for Pope County that was part of the state constitution. According to unofficial results from the Secretary of State’s Office, 631,417 voters (55.78%) favored the measure, while 464 (44.22%) opposed it.
A spokesperson for the committee backing the ballot initiative, Local Voters in Charge, told the Arkansas Advocate that the approval of Issue 2 ensures “no Arkansas community will have a casino that they don’t want forced into their hometown.”
Ironically, if you look at the county-by-county vote, the people who live in Pope County, where the casino would have been built, voted against the amendment, but the votes in the surrounding 74 counties were enough to get the amendment passed.
Pope County Judge Ben Cross, who opposed the initiative, released a statement shortly after the votes were counted:
“In what is undoubtedly the epitome of irony, Pope County voters definitively made their voices heard once and for all on the casino issue by soundly defeating Issue 2 in our county,” Cross said. “While 74 other counties once again decided an issue for us, it is interesting to note those closest to the issue, our neighboring counties, likewise defeated Issue 2.”
There Will Be No New Ozarks Casino in Missouri
A proposal to build a casino at Lake of the Ozarks has been rejected. In Tuesday's general election, approximately 52% of Missouri voters opposed Amendment 5, which would have permitted the Missouri Gaming Commission to issue an additional casino license for construction on the Osage River near Bagnell Dam.
Willie Isaacson, Chairman of the Christian Life Commission, expressed concerns over the potential negative impacts of gambling, telling Missourinet, "Gambling is an experience that can become very addictive, very quickly. It doesn't just harm the individual; it can also lead to negative outcomes such as divorce, bankruptcy, child abuse, domestic violence, crime, and suicide."
The Missouri Gaming Commission anticipated granting the new license to Bally’s, which currently operates a casino in Kansas City. Bally’s planned to develop a casino complex on the Osage River that would have included a 300-room hotel, a convention center, a casino floor, and several restaurants.
But Missouri voters narrowly approved a sports betting amendment.
Casino Plan Overwhelmingly Approved in Virginia
Petersburg, Virginia, residents are poised to welcome a casino after city voters overwhelmingly approved the proposed $1.4 billion project. Nearly 82% of residents voted to permit a casino in the city.
“This is an incredible outcome,” said Petersburg Mayor Sam Parham to 12 News Richmond. “It’s truly gratifying and demonstrates the power of unity between the mayor and city council.”
Over its first ten years, developers expect the casino to bring significant benefits, including:
- $2.8 billion in regional economic stimulus
- $504 million in tax revenue, with $240 million earmarked for Petersburg
- $802 million in economic contributions during construction
- $201 million in annual economic benefits post-opening
- Over 7,500 new construction and permanent jobs
Virginia's legislature initially chose Richmond as the site for a new casino resort, with media conglomerate Urban One as the operator. However, after residents rejected the proposal in 2021 and 2023, lawmakers shifted the casino-host designation to Petersburg.
Petersburg will now join the cities of Bristol, Danville, Hampton, and Norfolk, which have already approved casinos in their areas.
