The gaming and development business for Alabama’s Poarch Band of Creek Indians entered the mix on Wednesday to develop a casino resort in Richmond, Virginia, marking the fifth proposal that has been submitted for the Commonwealth’s last casino development.
Wind Creek Hospitality has offered to build a $541 million project in Richmond in two phases that will include a 100,000 square foot casino and two 252-room hotel towers, along with seven food and beverage outlets, resort-style amenities, and a 67,000 square-foot entertainment center.
“We operate several regional and destination casino resorts domestically and in the Caribbean, and feel that our expertise in gaming, our focus on diversity and strongly partnering with the communities we serve gives us an unmatched edge against our competition,” Arthur Mothershed, executive vice president of business development and government affairs, said in a statement.
Richmond was one of five cities Virginia lawmakers approved for casino expansion a year ago, requiring the communities to designate an operating partner and receive a favorable vote from its residents.
So far, Richmond officials received offers this week from:
- Golden Nugget Hotels & Casinos on a proposed $400 million casino-resort
- Cordish Cos. submitted plans for a $600 million project modeled on it Live! casino-resort brand
- Bally’s Corp. proposed a $650 million hotel-casino development
- The Pamunkey Indian Tribe proposed a $350 million, 300-room, hotel-casino with various amenities
- Urban One, a black-owned Washington media company, partnered with Peninsula Pacific Entertainment, owner of Colonial Downs Group, for a $517 million casino resort
Last November, voters in four Virginia cities overwhelmingly approved gaming referendums in their communities. Richmond was given an additional year to choose a casino developer and project site that would be submitted to voters for approval.
Richmond city leaders will not only need to factor in the gaming company involved in the development but also the selected site. The approval is expected by June with the vote taking place in November.
“It is a priority of Wind Creek to identify where the community needs are greatest, and the location Wind Creek has selected combines our goal to create jobs in an underserved area, while providing convenience to the property for our valued Guests,” Mothershed said of the Richmond location.
The other four Virginia cities lined up casino operating partners: Bristol with Hard Rock International, Danville with Caesars Entertainment, Portsmouth with Rush Street Gaming, and Norfolk with the Pamunkey Indian Tribe.
Windcreek Hospitality manages the tribe’s casinos in Alabama, Wind Atmore, Wind Creek Wetumpka, and Wind Creek Montgomery.
The company’s largest deal was completed in 2019 when it acquired the Sands Bethlehem Resort in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania for $1.3 billion. The property has since been rebranded as Wind Creek Bethlehem. Wind Creek also operates Renaissance Aruba Resort & Casino, Renaissance Curacao Resort & Casino.
Howard Stutz is the executive editor of CDC Gaming. He can be reached at hstutz@cdcgaming.com. Follow @howardstutz on Twitter.
