Virginia election results showed voters in Amherst County and the Town of Pulaski rejecting local parimutuel betting referendums. The unofficial outcomes blocked a required step toward potential Rosie’s Gaming Emporium locations in both communities.
The proposals would have permitted wagering at satellite facilities under Virginia law. Supporters highlighted potential jobs, entertainment, and local tax revenue. Opponents raised concerns about gambling addiction, effects on existing businesses, and changes to community character.
Amherst County’s vote was close, while Pulaski voters rejected the measure by a larger margin. Both results remained unofficial as election officials continued processing ballots.
Virginia Election Results: Local Referendum Vote Totals
Early reported totals showed that Amherst County voters rejected the proposal by 183 votes, with 7,057 voting against it and 6,874 voting in favor. Votes against the measure accounted for 50.66% of the total. In the Town of Pulaski, 1,463 voters opposed the proposal, while 1,128 supported it, giving opponents 56.46% of the vote and a margin of 335 votes. The Pulaski results reflect votes cast by town residents only, not voters throughout Pulaski County.
Some provisional and late-arriving mail ballots still required processing in early reporting. These figures should therefore be treated as unofficial until certification.
What Would the Parimutuel Betting Referendums Have Allowed?
The ballot questions asked whether “pari-mutuel wagering” should be permitted “at satellite facilities.”
A “yes” vote would have satisfied a local voter-approval requirement, allowing the Virginia Racing Commission to consider licensing a facility. It would not have automatically approved a particular property, development plan, or operator.
That distinction is important. Although the campaigns involved potential Rosie’s locations, the ballot questions concerned whether to allow this type of wagering within each locality.
The reported “no” votes left that required local permission unmet.
How Parimutuel Betting Relates to Rosie’s
Rosie’s Gaming Emporium, owned by Churchill Downs Incorporated, operates facilities featuring historical horse racing machines.
These machines use past horse race results to determine wagering outcomes. They can resemble slot machines in appearance and play, but Virginia classifies them as pari-mutuel wagering rather than traditional casino slot gaming.
Rosie’s locations also differ from full-service casinos because they do not offer house-banked table games.
Churchill Downs already operates Rosie’s facilities in Virginia communities including Vinton, Collinsville, and Dumfries. The Amherst County and Pulaski referendums could have opened the licensing path for additional locations.
Amherst County Rejects Another Gambling Referendum
Amherst County voters had considered a similar question before.
In 2021, approximately 7,293 voters opposed a referendum that could have allowed a facility in Madison Heights, compared with 6,189 who supported it.
The unofficial 2026 result was closer, but it again favored opponents.
Local resident Tobey Thurston helped lead opposition efforts during both campaigns. Opponents cited concerns about gambling addiction, possible crime, harm to existing businesses, and the county’s rural character.
Some also argued that voters had already made their position clear in the earlier election. County supervisors remained neutral during the latest campaign.
Pulaski Voters Turn Down Potential Gaming Expansion
For the Town of Pulaski, the referendum marked its first vote on the issue.
A petition effort supported by Churchill Downs and a local councilman helped put the question on the ballot. Supporters, including town officials, promoted estimates of about 75 jobs and $1 million to $2 million in annual local tax revenue.
They also pointed to a recent state law change that they said would allow the town to retain all revenue from the applicable gaming tax.
Those numbers were projections, not guaranteed financial results.
Supporters argued that a gaming facility could help pay for public services without increasing existing local taxes. Critics questioned whether those benefits would outweigh gambling-related harm and other social costs.
What Happens After These Virginia Election Results?
The next step is completing ballot processing and certifying the results.
Virginia law requires local voter approval before the Racing Commission can issue an initial license for a racetrack or satellite wagering facility. The same referendum question generally cannot return more often than once every three years.
If the unofficial results hold, the proposed expansion of parimutuel betting will not move forward through these ballot measures.
Amherst County’s vote would mark another rejection following its 2021 referendum. Pulaski’s result would end its first attempt to secure voter approval, despite supporters’ arguments about potential jobs and public revenue.
