Governor Glenn Youngkin has exercised his veto power for the first time, blocking a provision in the state budget that would have required a public referendum before a new Rosie’s Gaming Emporium could open in Henrico County.

Unfair After-the-Fact Change Of Rule

The Virginia General Assembly had previously given the green light to a budget plan mandating that Rosie’s parent company, Churchill Downs, and any other gaming operators obtain voter approval through a referendum before they are allowed to set up new gaming establishments. 

The proposal was aimed at boosting transparency and bringing input from the community.

Youngkin, who also opposed a Virginia skill games bill in January, stood behind his decision, arguing that the requirement was an unfair after-the-fact rule change that targeted Churchill Downs despite the company following all necessary regulations.

“That Is Not the Way We Do Business”

“They received all the permits they needed to start building, they’d invested $5 million in this new site and then someone came and tried to change the rules on them. I just didn’t think that was appropriate. That is not the way we do business,” Youngkin added. 

Henrico County officials strongly opposed the veto, reiterating their belief that residents should have had a direct say in the decision. 

“Henrico County is profoundly disappointed by the governor’s decision to remove voters from having a direct say in whether historical horse racing slot machine operators, such as Rosie’s, should operate in their backyards,” their statement earlier in the week said.

Dan Schmitt, chair of the Henrico County Board of Supervisors, added, “As we’ve seen repeatedly in recent months, Rosie’s has done nothing but hide from Henrico’s voters and skirt meaningful discussion of its potential presence within our community. There will never be a day where Henrico County doesn’t fight for the voice of its residents.”

In June 2024, State Senator Schuyler VanValkenburg (D-Henrico) echoed these concerns, stating, “(the) project, like all gambling projects, is going to require the voice of the people of Henrico.”

Louisville, Kentucky-based Churchill Downs, however, argued that the proposed referendum would have created a dangerous precedent for businesses operating in the Old Dominion.

In February, the same company that acquired Colonial Downs Group three years ago appointed Jeremy Callahan, Rosie’s general manager in Emporia, as general manager for Roseshire.

A Roseshire online platform encourages visitors to express support by sending pre-written emails to officials in Henrico, touting the project as one that will generate job openings and attract tax revenue.