The bill that would open the door for a casino in Pendleton County remains alive at the legislature after a vote by the House Judiciary Committee late Friday afternoon.
The committee approved the bill on a 16-7 vote and sent it to the House Finance Committee.
The bill, which has already passed the Senate, would allow for a $60 million development on Fisher Mountain, which would include a casino, resort and housing complex near an existing golf course.
The judiciary committee made a key change to the Senate bill. It put in a local referendum vote requirement. Pendleton County residents would have to approve the casino first, much like what happened in Greenbrier County.
Delegate Patrick Lane, R-Kanawha, voted against the bill saying there’s only so much gambling money to go around.
“There’s a finite at best pie in the gaming industry,” Lane said. “The more facilities we have we’re just slicing that pie smaller and smaller and smaller.”
But fellow Republican Delegate Bill Hamilton of Upshur County disagreed.
“Competition is good for you. Whether this is going to compete with The Greenbrier or Charles Town is good. I think it’s going to be a draw,” Hamilton said.
Supporters say Pendleton County needs a boost with declining employment and population and the state’s only Navy base set to move at the end of 2015. They say they can draw gambling business from Virginia.
The land company that owns the property is currently working with Full House Resort on the casino plans. Full House owns five casinos across the country from Indiana to Nevada, New Mexico to Mississippi.
Delegate Cliff Moore said he believes the judiciary committee strengthened the bill by adding the local referendum requirement.
“We are providing the people of Pendleton County the chance to decide for themselves whether they want this to happen or don’t want this to happen,” Moore said.