Government Officials in This Virginia City are Pursuing Casino Privileges
Posted on: December 1, 2025, 02:27h.
Last updated on: December 1, 2025, 02:38h.
- City leaders in Roanoke want to consider a casino development
- State lawmakers representing the city don’t favor casino gambling
The Roanoke City Council isn’t folding on its pursuit of a casino despite state lawmakers who represent Southwest Virginia expressing little enthusiasm for the gaming push.
Virginia legalized casinos in 2020, but licenses were restricted to five localities. They are Portsmouth, Norfolk, Petersburg, Bristol, and Danville.
Roanoke’s local government believes a casino would bring much-needed economic development to the Star City. Roanoke’s population has become stagnant at about 100K residents, a mark that’s stood since 1980.
Roanoke’s City Council is finalizing its Legislative Program for the 2026 General Assembly, a wish list of items the local government would like to see pass in Richmond. Among the bullet points, Cardinal News reports, is a casino license.
It is our most important priority this session, even if our delegation isn’t helping,” Councilor Peter Volosin reportedly said in an email to Councilor and Vice Mayor Terry McGuire, who is spearheading the legislative document.
Casinos are operating in four of the five designated cities. Petersburg will join next month with a temporary casino.
Economic Development
The Roanoke City Council wants the ability to transform the Berglund Special Events Center into a casino resort. Opened in 1971, the city-owned and operated facility is an all-purpose arena that regularly hosts college and high school sports, including basketball and ice hockey, conventions, and special events like WWE and concerts.
The local government believes a casino would create up to 1,000 permanent jobs, generate considerable tax revenue, and lift the region as a whole. The Berglund Center is expected to need $25 million in maintenance and upgrades over the next decade. Casino revenue would go a long way in funding the projected costs.
Roanoke’s elected officials at the state level, however, haven’t gotten on board with the casino consideration.
For Roanoke to allow a casino in town, it first needs the state’s blessing. From there, a local ballot referendum proposing the casino to city residents would need to field majority support.
I would not vote for a casino, probably under any circumstances,” said Del. Sam Rasoul (D-Roanoke).
Del. Joe McNamara (R-Roanoke) and state Sen. David Suetterlein (R-Roanoke) have also spoken publicly against a casino.
Roanoke’s legislative priorities have traditionally included economic development matters. For the previous General Assembly session, the council encouraged lawmakers in Richmond to pass legislation to allow certain tax revenues to pay for capital expenditures at Hotel Roanoke. The council also sought funding for improvements at Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional Airport and to accelerate I-81 repairs without tolling.
Odds Presumably Long
Virginia’s 2020 gaming bill called for a maximum of five casinos in the commonwealth. Richmond was initially included, but after two failed local referendums in the capital city, lawmakers amended the statute to move the license about 20 miles south to Petersburg.
While other cities and regions are also considering casino prospects, as of now, there isn’t a strong faction of lawmakers who are publicly in support of further expanding the state’s new gaming industry with a sixth license.
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