Another Virginia City Considering Casino Push as Residents in Another Community Push Back

Posted on: October 21, 2025, 09:42h. 

Last updated on: October 21, 2025, 09:58h.

Devin O'Connor @CasinoorgDevinO Read More
Expertise: Asia Pacific Gaming, Commercial Gaming, Legislation, Politics.
  • Could a casino be coming to Winchester?
  • The Virginia city is in the early stages of discussing casino gambling
  • Roanoke residents are seemingly opposed to a casino 

In the coming months, Virginia will be home to five operational casinos with slot machines, live-dealer table games, and sportsbooks. There are considerations ongoing in at least three additional cities to join the budding gambling market.

Virginia casinos Winchester Roanoke
The City of Winchester, Va., is in the early stages of reviewing whether a casino resort could help grow tourism and convention business in the Northern Virginia town. Meanwhile, locals in Roanoke are pushing back on a similar consideration. (Image: Shutterstock)

Last week, Casino.org reported that city officials in Roanoke are mulling a campaign to convince state lawmakers in Richmond to allow the Southwest Virginia city to vote on a casino. The consideration involves authorizing a casino resort at the city’s Berglund Center, an all-purpose arena that hosts sports, concerts, and other events.

During its Monday evening public hearing, where members of the community are invited to weigh in on public matters, the Roanoke City Council fielded stern backlash for City Manager Valmarie Turner raising the casino initiative.

Turner was appointed city manager of Roanoke only in January. She arrived from the City of Fairfax in Loudoun County in Northern Virginia. 

Roanoke Pushback

Chris Craft, a member of the Berglund Center Advisory Committee, told the Roanoke City Council that he was frustrated for not being privy to the casino talks.

We know nothing — don’t know anything. And that’s just slapping us in the face,” Craft said. “As a member of that committee, I like to be open and honest.”

Craft added that he’s “against” a casino in what he believes is an “all-American city” where gambling doesn’t align.

Former Roanoke Mayor Ralph Smith, who served in Richmond as a state senator, also spoke in opposition to a casino. Smith said, unlike the five other cities where casinos are licensed — Portsmouth, Norfolk, Bristol, Danville, and Petersburg — Roanoke isn’t “troubled.”

Smith encouraged the council to seek more efficient governance and to attract new business to the region that doesn’t include slot machines. Religious leaders and other residents additionally spoke against a casino.

City officials say the Berglund Center will need $25 million in maintenance over the next decade, and casino revenue could help offset some of those costs. But the odds of Roanoke conducting a local gaming referendum are seemingly long.

The state would need to amend the 2020 casino law to include Roanoke. State Del. Joseph McNamara (R-Roanoke) and state Sen. David Suetterlein (R-Roanoke) have already spoken against such legislation.

Winchester Casino? 

This week, it was revealed that officials in Winchester in Frederick County could also be interested in becoming a casino host. Located in the picturesque Shenandoah Valley, Winchester is about 55 air miles west of Tysons in Fairfax County, where some state lawmakers are pushing for a casino amid considerable local government and resident backlash.

A document made public on the City of Winchester’s government website reveals that the Winchester-Frederick County Convention and Visitors Bureau and Visitors Center held discussions about a casino in August. The tourism and convention bureau met with the Winchester Economic Development Authority on the casino matter.

“The type of product that we are looking for is … that destination event, hotel, the whole sort of grab to really be a destination,” Addie Lingle, chair of the Winchester EDA, confirmed to WDBJ.