Rivers Casino Portsmouth to Partner with Local, Minority-Owned Businesses
Posted on: September 4, 2020, 11:02h.
Last updated on: September 4, 2020, 11:20h.
Rivers Casino Portsmouth developer Rush Street Gaming says it’s seeking minority-owned businesses to partner with on the Virginia gaming resort.
Portsmouth is one of five cities in Virginia that qualifies to build a casino through the passage of a gaming bill signed by Gov. Ralph Northam (D) earlier this year. The bill is tailored towards assisting economically challenged cities.
Portsmouth awarded Chicago-based Rush Street with the privileges of building a casino destination in the Hampton Roads city. Should local voters pass a ballot referendum on November 3 — the final step in legally clearing the way for the casino — Rush Street says it will seek to partner with local minority-owned businesses and/or investors of color.
Rivers Casino Portsmouth will solicit minority participation for five percent of the equity contribution or $5 million, whichever is greater, from minority-owned businesses or private investors who are minorities and, as required by securities laws, are accredited investors,” a release explained.
The company adds that companies and investors that are based in Portsmouth will be given preference. “This will help ensure that the transformative economic impact of Rivers Casino Portsmouth starts and stays at home in Greater Portsmouth,” Rush added.
Casinos Fuel Minority Businesses
New casino projects across the US have been used to promote minority-owned businesses. In new gaming states — Massachusetts, for example — commercial gaming laws have required winning casino licensees to contract minority-owned companies during construction, and agree to hire a certain minimum number of minorities into their permanent workforces.
In Virginia, the five towns that qualified for a casino under Senate Bill 1126 — Portsmouth, Richmond, Norfolk, Bristol, and Danville — local development agreements have included stipulations that casinos bring in minority-owned investors and minority workers.
Rush Street Gaming will honor the Commonwealth’s and the City’s social objectives, including commitments to supporting minority and local businesses and maximizing their participation in the Project,” states an executive summary of the project.
Rush Street owns and operates four casinos: Rivers Des Plaines (IL), Rivers Schenectady (NY), and Rivers Pittsburgh and Philadelphia in Pennsylvania. Here’s a breakdown of their employee demographics:
- Des Plaines: 45 percent women, 61 percent minority
- Schenectady: 46 percent women, 42 percent minority
- Pittsburgh: 39 percent women, 32 percent minority
- Philadelphia: 42 percent women, 50 percent minority
Casino Scope
If Portsmouth residents sign off on the casino, Rush Street is ready to spend $300 million to build a casino resort that is expected to employ 1,300 people, with projected annual wages, tips, and benefits totaling $62 million.
Rush Street has agreed to pay $10 million to acquire the vacant land located at Victory and Cavalier boulevards just off I-264. The casino will come with slot machines, table games, and a sportsbook. The complex will feature a hotel, convention center, and entertainment space.
City planning officials project that the resort will generate $16.3 million in annual tax revenue for Portsmouth and more than $200 million annually in regional gross domestic product.
The Rivers Portsmouth casino would be on the hook for sharing between 18 percent to 30 percent of its gross gaming revenue with the city and state. The final rate depends on the property’s total win.
Last Comment ( 1 )
IT IS ABSOLUTELY PATHETIC THAT THE CASINO WILL NOT HAVE A HOTEL AS THE NORFOLK PROJECT WILL HAVE. THIS IS ABSOLUTELY A GAME CHANGER. NO HOTEL MEANS THAT A LOT OF BUSINESS WILL BE LOST TO NORFOLK AND OTHER CITIES WITH A CASINO 'AND' HOTEL NO HOTEL INDICATES THAT PORTSMOUTH NEED A MAYOR AND CIITY COUNCIL THAT KNOW HOW TO CONDUCT BUSINESS AND BARGAN. AAGAIN, MUCH CASINO BUSINESS WILL BE LOST BECAUSE A SIGNIFCANT NUMBER OF CASINO GOERS WILL OPT FOR A CASINO WITH A HOTEL ON SITE, ESPECIALLY THOS WHO BRING FAMILY AND/OR FRIENDS ALONG. PERSONALLY, I WOULD NEVER GO TO A CACINO WHILE MY WIFE AND/OR CHILDREN ARE IN A HOTEL FARF AWAY OR NOT CLOSE ENOUGH FOR ME TO WALK TO THEM IN A FEW MINUTES AT MOST, OR THEY TO ME LIKEWISE.IN CLOSING, PORTSMOUTH CITY HAS GIVEN THE CASINO FOUR YEARS TO BUILD A HOTEL. THAT WAS DUMB ALSO. THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN GIVEN ONE (1) YEAR, PERIOD, AFTER WHICH THE CITY BUUILDS THE HOTEL, WHICH WOULD BE A GOOD INVESTMENT FOR THE CITY.