Published on: February 5, 2026, 07:57 AM.
Updated on: February 5, 2026, 07:57 AM.
- Roanoke receives a $75,000 donation from a confidential casino developer
- The city continues to explore potential casino initiatives at the state level
The City of Roanoke, located in the scenic Blue Ridge Mountains of southwest Virginia, has accepted a substantial donation of $75,000 from a casino developer whose identity remains undisclosed. The specific allocation of these funds has not been publicly revealed.
Finance records reveal that the $75,000 donation was received on January 27. This contribution originates from a developer with whom the Roanoke City Council entered into a nondisclosure agreement last year.
According to the Roanoke Rambler, city spokesperson Carol Corbin clarified that the amount will not finance their lobbying contract with Two Capitals Consulting, a firm retained by Roanoke for $6,000 per month to advocate for state lawmakers to support the proposed renovation of the Berglund Center into a casino resort.
Corbin mentioned that the NDA limits the city’s ability to disclose how the $75,000 will be used. However, Mayor Joe Cobb noted that the fund can be utilized at the city’s discretion, possibly for purposes such as conducting a gaming market analysis or launching a marketing campaign to build support for a casino.
Chances for a Roanoke Casino Appear Slim
A majority of the Roanoke City Council is inclined to encourage the state to explore the possibility of a casino development at the city-owned multipurpose venue, which requires substantial repairs and enhancements.
For this initiative to proceed, state lawmakers, along with Governor Abigail Spanberger (D), must first enact and sign legislation that recognizes Roanoke as a potential casino-hosting city. Following that, the city would need to select a casino developer and submit the plan to voters for local referendum approval.
If a majority of voters approve, the Virginia Lottery Board, which oversees casino gaming in the state, could then issue a gaming license to the proposed Roanoke casino.
As reported by Casino.org, the likelihood of Roanoke being designated as a casino city in 2026 appears low. To date, no legislators have stepped forward to support a casino bill in Richmond for Roanoke.
Lawmakers seem to be focusing more on bringing a casino to Northern Virginia, with particular interest in the affluent Tysons area of Fairfax County.
Future Focus
In discussions with CBS7, Cobb acknowledged that 2026 may not be the ideal year for Roanoke’s casino aspirations.
“Currently, we lack a legislative patron for this initiative, which is always a critical first step. However, we are hopeful that a patron may emerge in future sessions. Some of these developments can take several years to materialize,” Cobb stated.
“Whether there’s momentum in this legislative session or we should take a pause with our lobbying efforts… Lobbyists play an essential role in fostering relationships and advancing ideas. Building broad support in the General Assembly requires advocates on our behalf,” Cobb articulated.
Since Virginia enacted its initial gaming legislation in 2020, only Petersburg has been included in the list of casino cities after Richmond voters rejected a casino proposal during two separate referendums.