Governor Ralph Northam has signed into law a bill that opens the door for Virginia casino gaming, as well as providing a route to law for sports betting in the state. Northam has ratified SB1126, filed by Senator Louise Lucas in December 2018, which allows cities to establish casinos, provided they meet a series of conditions. Cities are eligible to host the venues if they have an unemployment rate of at least 4%, a poverty rate of 20%, and had experienced a population decline of at least 7% between 1990 and 2016. Tribal casinos, meanwhile, would be permitted in cities…

Following a lengthy history of staunch opposition, the state of Virginia seems to be experiencing a shift when it comes to casino-style gambling. The Pamunkey Indian tribe has recently disclosed its plans to build a $700 million casino and resort in partnership with Yarbrough Capital and is currently eyeing a 600-acre property in New Kent County, located just 30 miles east of Richmond. Soon after, another announcement came on the heels of the Pamunkey project: Chicago-based company Revolutionary Racing has struck a $20 million deal to buy Colonial Downs, a closed down horseracing track located just minutes away. Gambling laws…