The Virginia Racing Commission has given a unanimous nod on Monday to Churchill Downs’ proposal for a horse-betting establishment in Henrico County, aiming to launch by the end of September. This advancement comes despite significant pushback from community leaders and lawmakers who expressed concerns regarding transparency and legalities.

The upcoming Roseshire Gaming Parlor, strategically positioned at the Staples Mill Shopping Center, will host 175 historical horse racing machines. These terminals, similar to slot machines, are authorized by a 2018 state law governing such equipment. Operations are set to commence on September 29, subject to fulfilling outstanding administrative requirements.

Churchill Downs, a well-known gaming operator based in Kentucky and recognized for its Rosie’s Gaming Emporium chain, has recently obtained a state license for this venue. However, the approval process has faced criticism from various stakeholders for circumventing public consultation and relying on a decades-old referendum to validate the license.

Henrico County officials, including State Senator Schuyler VanValkenburg and Brookland District Supervisor Dan Schmitt, voiced their dissent after the vote, accusing Churchill Downs of taking advantage of a previously closed zoning loophole and neglecting essential community involvement.

“I believe the supervisor shares my sentiment: every option is on the table,” VanValkenburg told VPM News. “The company still has more permits to secure, as you may have heard in our discussion. We question the legality of the referendum they’re using, so I think further investigation is warranted.”

Churchill Downs referenced a 1992 Henrico referendum to back their license application, notwithstanding that the legislation allowing historical horse racing machines came about 26 years later. VanValkenburg argued that it is questionable whether voters at that time could have knowingly endorsed a form of gambling technology that didn’t exist.

“To suggest that we approved machines in 1992 that were non-existent until 1997 is, frankly speaking, a misuse of legal provisions,” he expressed. “It seems we are witnessing a company — and now a racing commission — that has deliberately overlooked public engagement.”

While Henrico previously permitted historical horse racing machines in multiple commercial zoning categories by-right, it modified its ordinance last year to mandate greater community feedback. Churchill Downs submitted its application just weeks prior to these new regulations coming into effect.

Supervisor Schmitt voiced his discontent over what he considered the company’s continual refusal to engage with local officials and residents. “They are running unchecked, disregarding the community’s wishes,” Schmitt remarked to VPM. “The individuals who wish to communicate with them are being ignored, including the very community they claim to serve.”

Jack Sours, Vice President of Gaming at Churchill Downs, asserted to the commission that the company is committed to a “community-centered” philosophy, promising to hire locally and contribute annually to neighborhood initiatives. Nevertheless, Schmitt dismissed these statements as inconsistent with the company’s previous actions.

“I commend the residents who showed up today. They’re representing not only themselves but also their neighbors and the broader community,” Schmitt stated. “I only wish we had more receptive listeners in the commission and those advocating for this project.”