Rally Against the Casino: What's Going On?
Proponents of the Hudson Yards Casino in New York City Schedule Demonstration for Thursday
Here's a lowdown on the latest events in the gambling industry, focusing on a contentious casino project that's causing quite a stir.
Santee, SC Casino Controversy
Tensions are running high as the Catawba Nation's proposed casino is met with adversity. The project's antagonist, Catawba chief Brian Harris, claims developer Wallace Cheves, of Two Kings Casino, is exploiting the tribe. However, former assistant chief Jason Harris disputes this, alleging that Chief Harris sidelined Cheves after his 2023 election.
The project, boasting a potential $8B economic impact and numerous job opportunities, enjoys widespread local support, according to polls. However, the fate of this casino hangs in the balance, with H. 4176, the bill authorizing the casino, still pending in the South Carolina legislature.
Vallejo, CA Casino Rollercoaster
Once approved in January 2025, the Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians' casino project experienced a setback in March 2025 due to a new DOI review. The plans include a $700M resort featuring a casino, a theater, bowling alley, and parking garage.
Other Gambling News Highlights
- In Council Bluffs, IA, PENN Entertainment announced plans to replace riverboat operations with a land-based Hollywood Casino.
- Bally’s permanent casino in Chicago, IL, is under construction, financed by GLPI.
- Las Vegas Sands abandoned a $5B casino plan for Nassau Coliseum, NY, citing online gambling competition as the reason.
For the Santee project, while zoning issues haven't been explicitly mentioned, legislative approval and tribal leadership disputes remain significant obstacles[1]. In Vallejo, federal trust land issues dominate[3].
- The online casino industry continues to evolve, with sports betting trends becoming increasingly popular, such as the surge in bets placed on athletes and sports events.
- In Virginia, gambling trends have sparked a debate over the zoning of new casinos, particularly in relation to the potential financial impact on the local economy.
- The gambling-and-casino industry has faced various issues this year, such as the possibly exploitative behavior in the Catawba Nation's proposed online casino in Santee, SC, and the ongoing zoning discussions about its establishment.
- The proposed online casino in Santee, SC, offers not only blackjack and sports betting but also promises substantial economic benefits through the creation of numerous job opportunities.
- The development of the Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians' online casino in Vallejo, CA, experienced a setback due to fresh Department of Interior (DOI) review, tossing their initial plans into uncertainty.
- Despite the controversies surrounding the Catawba Nation's online casino project in Santee, SC, the issue has garnered strong local support, with residents expressing optimism about the expected economic boost and job opportunities.
- In the world of sports betting, Las Vegas Sands abandoned a casino plan for Nassau Coliseum, NY, attributing the decision to a vibrant online gambling market that poses stiff competition.
- The online casino industry is not simply limited to physical resorts like those in Las Vegas; it also extends to new online platforms and sports betting markets, thereby proving to be a significant player in the global finance sector.
