The Virginia General Assembly convenes for its 2023 session Wednesday, and along with that comes a high-stakes game between Petersburg and Richmond over who gets to host the fifth and final casino in Virginia.

The war of words between the cities that has gone on since Petersburg entered the gambling fray last year intensified as the session’s launch drew closer, with Richmond’s mayor saying Monday the city is all-in on getting a second crack at voting on a casino referendum this November, and Petersburg proponents essentially telling Richmond the next day to back off and let Petersburg have its shot.

At stake in the game are two resorts, one multi-million and one topping the $1 billion mark, that are being promoted as financial saviors to two areas hard hit by financial issues.