- The city of Roanoke is pushing for support from the Virginia Government to bring a local casino.
- Roanoke is paying $6,000 a month to a Richmond-based lobbying firm to push for support towards state lawmakers’ local casino project.
- However, the casino project faces pushback from Virginia legislators on both sides of the aisle.
ROANOKE, Va. – Roanoke wants a casino, and they’re putting $6,000 a month towards lobbying efforts to get it done. There are currently five legal casinos in Virginia, and Roanoke is contributing towards bringing a sixth to the Berglund Center.
The City of Roanoke signed a contract with Two Capitols Consulting, a lobbying firm with headquarters in Richmond, Virginia. While the contract doesn’t explicitly use the word ‘casino’, it does state that the lobbying firm will help the city towards their “special economic development project’, in terms of advising the city on legislative and administrative matters, budget, and all regulatory aspects for getting the project to advance.
According to the contract obtained by WDBJ7, the firm will assist Roanoke in building relationships with key officials in the General Assembly and gain advocates for the Roanoke casino project. This project requires approval from a General Assembly vote and a city residents vote through a ballot referendum.
Roanoke Casino Project Opposed By Both Political Aisles
There are both Republican and Democratic state lawmakers who oppose a casino in Roanoke, which may prove to be a key obstacle in the casino project’s path. Still, the contract claims that all lobbying money has already been accounted for from their annual budget and won’t impact any other departments in the city.
Republican Delegate Joe McNamara stated, “I just really don’t see a casino as a solution to Roanoke City’s spending problems. Roanoke City does have problems from a spending perspective, and we need to get that in order. I don’t think a casino and the associated problems that are going to come with the casino is the best answer.”
Democrat Delegate Sam Rasoul added on by stating that “I’ve traditionally voted against all of the casinos. The reality is I think there are better ways to fund initiatives.” Both delegates represent parts of Roanoke and are key proponents of the future success of a Roanoke casino project.
The lobbying contract for a real money casino expects to end on April 30, the end of the 2025-2026 lobbying year. If the contract were to exist for the entirety of the lobbying year, Roanoke will contribute $42,000 towards the efforts since the contract was signed back on September 22.