Summary
- Satellite casinos must be located in the same county as the license holder’s existing casino.
- Senator Eric Nelson is focused on bringing casino gaming to downtown Charleston.
- County voter approval via referendum is required.
On Wednesday, the Senate Finance Committee of West Virginia approved a satellite casino measure. SB 100 would allow existing casinos in the state to open a satellite location in the same county as their existing venue. Sponsored by Senator Eric Nelson, the bill seeks to bring a satellite casino to downtown Charleston inside the Town Center Mall. The facility is struggling, and a casino would breathe new life into the venue.
The process of bringing satellite casinos to West Virginia involves several steps. County voters must approve the option and the state’s Lottery Commission must also be on board. First comes legislative approval, then the referendum and lottery approval. Next, is the setup of licensing. For the downtown Charleston idea, Nelson says that a tenant/landlord deal would need to be set up with the mall.
In the area, the Mardi Gras Casino offers casino gaming less than 20 miles from downtown. The brand could apply for the satellite casino license and then set up the facility inside the mall. Nelson feels that revenues generated from the satellite venue could go to help pay for the Charleston Coliseum and Convention Center, a space that has been renovated over the past few years.
Second Try’s a Charm?
This is not the first time that lawmakers in West Virginia are debating a satellite casino bill. Another measure was introduced in 2019 and was backed by the Wheeling Island casino owners. The bill was able to move through the House but failed in the Senate.
With this new bill, it seems it might have more support since it is not being pushed by a casino operator, but a lawmaker. In speaking with the Finance Committee, West Virginia Racing Association President John Cavacini stated that a casino at the mall would bring in new development like offices or businesses, helping to spur the local economy.
The bill was approved via vote and now heads to the full Senate. It must receive full approval to move forward once again.
Will It Be Successful?
If the measure passes, it is likely that the satellite casinos will do well. Pennsylvania approved satellite casino gaming back in 2017 and it took a few years to get the ball rolling. However, the state now offers several smaller venues, and they are all doing well.
The same could be said for West Virginia if lawmakers can approve the measure and it passes all the additional steps to become law. Opposition might try to say that the satellite venues would create competition for existing casinos, but as we see in Pennsylvania, satellite casinos and full-scale operations can coexist and both benefit from visiting patrons.
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