Virginia House panel scuttles plan for cruise ship casinos in state waters

Tuesday, January 30, 2024 8:58 PM
  • Graham Moomaw, Virginia Mercury

After hearing from angry Yorktown residents who said they don’t want to encourage more cruise ships in coastal Virginia, a House of Delegates panel voted 5-3 Tuesday to reject a proposal to allow large cruise ships to activate their casinos within Virginia waters.

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The vote doesn’t mean the legislation is fully dead, because it’s still advancing in the Virginia Senate. But it’s a sign one of the more unexpected gambling bills of the 2024 legislative session may be in trouble.

At a meeting of a House subcommittee that deals with gambling and alcohol, Del. Paul Krizek, D-Alexandria, said he opposed the bill because it’s not following the same referendum process Virginia has used in the past to allow casino gambling.