All they need is for the Virginia General Assembly to legalize gaming in the commonwealth.” And see Jeff Schapiro’s latest column (if you can read it, as it’s behind a strict paywall), which among other things notes:īackers of a proposed casino in benighted Bristol, among them men and women who made a fortune in Southwest Virginia coal long before it hit bottom, have stroked checks for $550,000 to six PACs. McGlothlin and Stacy envision establishing a massive resort with a hotel, restaurants, shopping, entertainment and family attractions on the 49-acre site. Also see Casino resort at former Bristol Mall could transform region’s economy, which reported back in September that “ Jim McGlothlin and Clyde Stacy - former high school classmates, coal barons and longtime Southwest Virginia business leaders - are behind the proposal to create a 100,000-square-foot casino in part of the vacant 540,000-square-foot retail center on Gate City Highway. See below the screenshots for more background and discussion on this issue. Does that sound like the slimy system of legalized corruption known as the “Virginia Way” or WHAT? Meanwhile, the House GOP might pass the O’Quinn bill this session.

Also, my source tells me that the rumor mill is that right after session ends, the House GOP will report a $300k donation from the coal barons/gambling interests. My source told me that in the O’Quinn bill, the localities are defined – without being named – in a way that clearly corresponds to Bristol, Portsmouth and Danville. in the Senate) on casino gambling ( HB 2536 – see screenshot, below), as well as lobbyists retained and large political contributions by coal barons (including the “United Company,” owned by one of the coal barons, Jim McGlothlin) who want to move into the gambling industry (also see screenshots, below). I was chatting with a Richmond-based political source of mine yesterday about the following bill by Israel O’Quinn (co-patroned by Daniel Marshall and John Bell in the House of Delegates patroned by Charles Carrico, Sr.

Bristol casino roanoke virginia