A rendering of the Roseshire Gaming Parlor planned at Staples Mill Shopping Center. (Images courtesy RoseshireGaming.com)
A bipartisan push to have county voters weigh in on a planned horse-betting parlor in Henrico has been rejected by Gov. Glenn Youngkin, giving the controversial project that’s already under construction a seemingly clearer path to proceed.
But Dan Schmitt, the Henrico Board of Supervisors chairman whose district includes the project site, said the fight against the parlor – and operator Churchill Downs Inc. – would continue.
Youngkin said Monday he is vetoing language that legislators put into the state budget to allow Henrico to hold a referendum on the project. The effort was led by Sen. Schuyler VanValkenburg, who has worked with Schmitt in opposing the casino-like parlor that’s underway at Staples Mill Shopping Center.
Dan Schmitt
Noting the General Assembly could override the veto when it reconvenes in April, Schmitt said: “We will continue to seek some help in the General Assembly special session. It takes two-thirds to override a veto.
“I’ll continue to oppose their licensing at Virginia Racing Commission meetings; I’ll continue to oppose their ABC license along with hundreds of residents who have also opposed their ABC license,” Schmitt said. “There’s plenty of pathways left, and that is also to govern them and to hold them as accountable, if they do open, as anybody else in meeting the county ordinances and standards. The fight never ends in that regard.”
When Churchill Downs submitted plans for the project last summer, Schmitt publicly denounced the company’s timing in light of a zoning rules update that Henrico had initiated months earlier. The board’s opposition was backed by VanValkenburg, who called on Churchill Downs to withdraw the plan in a letter co-signed by the seven other state legislators who represent Henrico.
On his Facebook page Monday, VanValkenburg said Youngkin “sided with an out-of-state gambling corporation over his own citizens by taking out the Henrico referendum for the Rosie’s gambling establishment. This is why people hate politics and politicians. What’s so wrong about our people having a say?”
An interior rendering by design firm WATG | SOSH.
Called Roseshire Gaming Parlor, the casino-like parlor would include “historical horse racing” game machines like those at Rosie’s Gaming Emporium parlors, which Churchill Downs also owns.
While Henrico voters narrowly approved on- and off-site betting in the county in a petitioned-for referendum in 1992, Schmitt maintains that voters had no say on historical horse racing machines, which he likens to slot machines, when the General Assembly allowed them in 2018.
The Virginia Racing Commission that year awarded Colonial Downs Group licensing for 600 historical horse racing game machines at the reopened New Kent racetrack and 700 at the Richmond Rosie’s on Midlothian Turnpike. The Rosie’s in South Richmond, which opened in 2019, is one of seven opened so far across Virginia.
Churchill Downs, which acquired Colonial Downs Group in 2022, last month named Jeremy Callahan, formerly the general manager of the Rosie’s in Emporia, as GM for Roseshire.
A website for Roseshire encourages visitors to show their support by sending a pre-written email to Henrico officials. The message, which can be modified, touts the project as creating new jobs and tax revenue for county services and schools.
Construction is underway at the 25,000-square-foot space that previously housed a Surplus Furniture & Mattress store. (Jonathan Spiers photo)
Following Youngkin’s announcement Monday, Henrico County issued a statement responding to the veto:
“In bipartisan fashion, the General Assembly outlined a transparent, public process that would give voters a voice in whether their communities should welcome these facilities. But instead of empowering voters, the governor’s decision rewards Rosie’s and similar companies that are uninterested in healthy, public engagement that is at the heart of a democracy.”
Schmitt, a Republican, called Youngkin’s veto confusing in light of recent debate over so-called skill games.
“This administration last year supported a public referendum for skill games, so what is the problem with a public referendum for historical horse racing slot machines?” Schmitt said. “It’s disappointing that this simple, easy ask was not met. This is just the people’s voice being asked for.”
A rendering of the Roseshire Gaming Parlor planned at Staples Mill Shopping Center. (Images courtesy RoseshireGaming.com)
A bipartisan push to have county voters weigh in on a planned horse-betting parlor in Henrico has been rejected by Gov. Glenn Youngkin, giving the controversial project that’s already under construction a seemingly clearer path to proceed.
But Dan Schmitt, the Henrico Board of Supervisors chairman whose district includes the project site, said the fight against the parlor – and operator Churchill Downs Inc. – would continue.
Youngkin said Monday he is vetoing language that legislators put into the state budget to allow Henrico to hold a referendum on the project. The effort was led by Sen. Schuyler VanValkenburg, who has worked with Schmitt in opposing the casino-like parlor that’s underway at Staples Mill Shopping Center.
Dan Schmitt
Noting the General Assembly could override the veto when it reconvenes in April, Schmitt said: “We will continue to seek some help in the General Assembly special session. It takes two-thirds to override a veto.
“I’ll continue to oppose their licensing at Virginia Racing Commission meetings; I’ll continue to oppose their ABC license along with hundreds of residents who have also opposed their ABC license,” Schmitt said. “There’s plenty of pathways left, and that is also to govern them and to hold them as accountable, if they do open, as anybody else in meeting the county ordinances and standards. The fight never ends in that regard.”
When Churchill Downs submitted plans for the project last summer, Schmitt publicly denounced the company’s timing in light of a zoning rules update that Henrico had initiated months earlier. The board’s opposition was backed by VanValkenburg, who called on Churchill Downs to withdraw the plan in a letter co-signed by the seven other state legislators who represent Henrico.
On his Facebook page Monday, VanValkenburg said Youngkin “sided with an out-of-state gambling corporation over his own citizens by taking out the Henrico referendum for the Rosie’s gambling establishment. This is why people hate politics and politicians. What’s so wrong about our people having a say?”
An interior rendering by design firm WATG | SOSH.
Called Roseshire Gaming Parlor, the casino-like parlor would include “historical horse racing” game machines like those at Rosie’s Gaming Emporium parlors, which Churchill Downs also owns.
While Henrico voters narrowly approved on- and off-site betting in the county in a petitioned-for referendum in 1992, Schmitt maintains that voters had no say on historical horse racing machines, which he likens to slot machines, when the General Assembly allowed them in 2018.
The Virginia Racing Commission that year awarded Colonial Downs Group licensing for 600 historical horse racing game machines at the reopened New Kent racetrack and 700 at the Richmond Rosie’s on Midlothian Turnpike. The Rosie’s in South Richmond, which opened in 2019, is one of seven opened so far across Virginia.
Churchill Downs, which acquired Colonial Downs Group in 2022, last month named Jeremy Callahan, formerly the general manager of the Rosie’s in Emporia, as GM for Roseshire.
A website for Roseshire encourages visitors to show their support by sending a pre-written email to Henrico officials. The message, which can be modified, touts the project as creating new jobs and tax revenue for county services and schools.
Construction is underway at the 25,000-square-foot space that previously housed a Surplus Furniture & Mattress store. (Jonathan Spiers photo)
Following Youngkin’s announcement Monday, Henrico County issued a statement responding to the veto:
“In bipartisan fashion, the General Assembly outlined a transparent, public process that would give voters a voice in whether their communities should welcome these facilities. But instead of empowering voters, the governor’s decision rewards Rosie’s and similar companies that are uninterested in healthy, public engagement that is at the heart of a democracy.”
Schmitt, a Republican, called Youngkin’s veto confusing in light of recent debate over so-called skill games.
“This administration last year supported a public referendum for skill games, so what is the problem with a public referendum for historical horse racing slot machines?” Schmitt said. “It’s disappointing that this simple, easy ask was not met. This is just the people’s voice being asked for.”
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I’m not necessarily opposed to gaming but why in this location?
I feel like they really need to take a look at what Vegas does and think of a cohesive project that incorporates not just gaming but also entertainment, hotels, other services, restaurants… A completely development that benefits the entire area, wherever it is constructed.
This Gaming parlor just by itself does nothing to enhance the area as a whole.
Frankly, that’s kinda up to the owner/operator. It was zoned to support this use, so presumably Henrico once felt the same way. The owner feel this is the best location for their product. I’m not in the gaming / gambling business so who am I to tell them to significantly increase their investment to include entertainment, hotels and other services, which already exist nearby. That’s clearly not what they want or see as needed for this site / use.
Au contraire, the antiquated zoning never accounted for electronic simulated horse race gambling ventures (really, who could anticipate these precise legal definitions created to skirt existing regulations). The county updated its zoning, but Churchill Downs snuck through their “by right” filing before the change took effect, which is why relief via a referendum was needed.
Of all the issues with bipartisan support to overrule, he picks this one. Not surprising they will sell out their constituents, but I will be interested to see VPAP updates defining just how cheaply these votes can be bought.
All skirting and 11th hour timelines, it was legal. What is being asked is an exception to the legal rights of someone. You cant just move the goal post after the fact because some folks complain.
Well, Churchill Downs had been notified about the upcoming process changes that would require resident input, and rather than deal with that hassle they basically did the “legal” thing with the foreknowledge that the laws were inadequate to correctly define certain aspects of their industry that had evolved over time and were being amended to deal with issues pertinent to their specific situation. I understand the veto from a “fairness to the business” perspective, but it shows total contempt for the voting residents of Henrico that CD would deliberately prevent comment or review in order to get through what they… Read more »
Brett, what about the legal rights of all the people who own property, pay taxes and live near the site?
The fact that this huge negative for the area is being shoved down people’s throats without any input from them is yet another example of how we are no longer in democracy.
Is there anyone who has any doubt the scales were tipped by huge “donations” to “campaign funds”?
Aren’t you referencing a full blown “casino”, Ala the one to be built in Petersburg? The legislature authorized such casinos in economically blighted communities, of which Henrico County would not qualify. Nonetheless, Fairfax is seeking to put one in Tysons Corner, which certainly is not blighted.
In a TV interview soundbite from the Governor, I took it that Youngkin based his veto on Henrico changing the permitting rules in the middle of their application process.
I don’t agree with Schmitt’s politics but on this particular issue, he’s in the right. The people of Henrico deserve a referendum for such a development, it’s interesting to see the governor overriding a bipartisan bill like this.
It really makes you wonder what influence Churchill Downs has behind the scenes, particularly since they own the Rosie’s brand and virtually had a monopoly on gambling in the state until very recently.
Deserve? why? This was done within their legal rights.
I’m not a gambler yet this is not about gambling it’s about property rights. At the time of their request zoning allowed such usage. Stop blaming the company and blame the county for not taking action sooner. If you feel it is right for the government to take away the property owner’s legal right at the time, you are approving a legal precedent for your property rights to be taken away in the future. It’s not about gambling, whether you like gambling or not, it’s about legal property rights.
You’re correct, it’s all about property rights. Unfortunately Henrico was slow to act to address the inroads made in gambling by technology. But the technology changes the calculus. And so what was OK with voters in 1992 may not be today. How about if old zoning that allowed for adult bookstore operations was used to justify a bookstore with “avatar experience?” I know, crazy idea. But the same would’ve been said about historical race/slot machines back in ’92. Ultimately the County failed to react quickly enough to allow voters to restate approval. But the real fallout might end up being… Read more »
Good. Henrico County showed blatant disregard for due process and property rights, and wrapped it in an elitist paternalistic attitude toward adult entertainment choices.
For those opposed to the establishment, perhaps they should contact Schmitt and other Henrico Supervisors urging them to offer a buyout to CD in trade for abandoning this location. VanValkenburg’s objection is that Youngkin vetoed an attempt by the legislature to usurp existing laws that CD followed prior to being changed. Youngkin rightfully vetoed an attempt by the legislature to retroactively implement county law/statue. For those arguing the 1992 law could not have envisioned changes in the type of gaming due to technology; it’s akin to arguing the First Amendment should be disregarded because the Founders could not envision speech… Read more »