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The company reopening Colonial Downs is seeking a satellite gaming facility in Dumfries, organizers announced Thursday.
Colonial Downs Group is requesting a voter referendum in town to allow the betting facility in accordance with state law, according to a news release.
鈥淚鈥檓 excited about this opportunity to bring a major entertainment facility to Dumfries,鈥� said local business owner Linda Wilkins after submitting the paperwork. 鈥淚t will mean good paying jobs for our residents and more tax revenue for the town.”
Upon court approval of Thursday’s petition, Colonial Downs Group will coordinate a Dumfries signature drive. To place a referendum on the ballot, signatures from at least 5% of qualified voters must be submitted to the General Registrar for certification.
鈥淚 believe it will help put Dumfries on the map and make this a destination for folks from all across the region to come to have fun, play some games, have dinner and help our town grow,鈥� Wilkins said.
Colonial Downs Group has explored potential sites for one of its Rosie鈥檚 locations in Dumfries. An announcement about a preferred site is expected to be made during the referendum campaign.
Virginia State Senator Scott Surovell, who represents Dumfries, is supportive of the project.
鈥淥ut-of-state gaming facilities have been funding their schools with Northern Virginians’ money for years and it’s about time we took steps to keep those dollars here,鈥� Surovell said. 鈥淭his facility would be a game-changer for Dumfries economic development.鈥�
Earlier this year, the Virginia General Assembly approved the introduction of Historical Horse Racing machines, slot-like units for betting on pre-recorded races that are featured at all Rosie鈥檚 locations.
Colonial Downs Group opened its first Rosie鈥檚 Gaming Emporium at Colonial Downs with 600 HHR machines in April and its second Rosie鈥檚 in Vinton with 150 machines in May. The next Rosie鈥檚 with 700 HHR machines will open in Richmond in June, and a Rosie鈥檚 is under construction in Hampton. The sites include simulcast horseracing, with a restaurant, bar and gift shop.
鈥淪ince we announced the re-opening of Colonial Downs in New Kent County and the revitalization of thoroughbred horse racing in Virginia, a number of communities have expressed interest in opening a Rosie鈥檚 to create jobs and tax revenue for their residents,鈥� said Aaron Gomes, chief operating officer of Colonial Downs Group. 鈥淒umfries is a vibrant and emerging community looking for the new kind of entertainment that Rosie鈥檚 delivers. We want to be located in Dumfries, and we鈥檙e excited to go out and share with voters what we鈥檙e about and what we do and let them decide if they鈥檇 like to be home to one of our facilities.鈥�
Town of Dumfries Mayor Derrick Wood said while the town is not directly involved with the process right now, he is open to exploring all economic options for the town, including this idea.
鈥淥ne of my campaign promises was to make Dumfries a destination place, so I think this will be a good way to expand our commercial base, but it鈥檚 something we have to explore,鈥� said Wood.
The mayor is in the early stages of reviewing the idea, but said it could expand the town鈥檚 tax base and attract people to the town. Wood said if the petition receives enough signatures from town residents, then the idea will be put on the November ballot.
The first day of live racing at Colonial Downs in New Kent County will be Aug. 8.
鈥淲orld class horse racing is returning to Virginia, and we could not be more excited. When new communities approve pari-mutuel gaming at facilities within their borders, it will lift up the horse industry statewide, ensure more races at Colonial Downs, and generate new jobs and revenue in these localities and all across Virginia,鈥� said Debbie Easter, president of the Virginia Equine Alliance. 鈥淥ur partnership with the Colonial Downs Group is a strong one, and we hope the voters of Dumfries will help this partnership to grow even further by voting yes for pari-mutuel wagering and gaming this November.鈥�
