Virginia tribe eyes casino in Norfolk

The Pamunkey Indian Tribe is looking to buy land by Harbor Park to develop the state’s first casino.

US.- Virginia’s first casino could be in the making as the Pamunkey Indian Tribe has begun negotiations with the state to acquire land for a gaming development. The tribe has chosen 20 acres of land around Harbor Park to, eventually, develop a casino.

“This would be a huge catalyst for Norfolk and for the region as a whole,” tribe spokesman Jay Smith said. “We’ve been doing our due diligence with surveys on the property.”

Mr Smith also explained that the proposed casino would involve a US$700 million property and a US$200 million payroll that is expected to generate a great economic impact for Virginia. According to the spokesman, figures would be well over US$1 billion.

In order to develop a casino, tribes need to get federal recognition for its land, which must be considered “ancestral” to qualify for the required federal trust.

“After a long process to find the perfect site for our resort and casino, we believe we have found that location on the banks of the Elizabeth River in Norfolk,” Chief Robert Gray said in a letter. “From day one, when we first made it known that the tribe would be considering a resort with a gaming component, we said that we would only go to a locality that welcomed us.”

Meanwhile, Mayor Kenny Alexander explained: “The tribe’s decision validates Norfolk as an emerging destination for tourism in the mid-Atlantic, and the centre for entertainment in Hampton Roads.”