Legislators Push to Expand Casino Gaming to St. Thomas/St. John, Revisiting 30-Year-Old Law Designed for St. Croix

A proposed amendment by Sen. Alma Francis Heyliger would allow casinos in St. Thomas/St. John for the first time, modernize outdated legislation, dedicate 50% of revenue to hospitals, and expand Casino Control Commission oversight territory-wide.

Plans are underway to amend 30-year-old legislation to allow casinos to be established in the St. Thomas/St. John district. Senator Alma Francis Heyliger, sponsor of the draft legislation, announced that the bill is still being refined by the Legislature’s legal team. Representatives of the Casino Control Commission, attending Monday's sitting of the Committee on Economic Development and Agriculture, were on hand to hear those plans and provide updates on operations and enforcement.

During the discussion, Senator Marise James raised the concern of what seemed to be illegal slot machines in operation in St. John. The ensuing discussion prompted her to ask whether “we should just go ahead and expand slot machines and casinos over to the island of St. Thomas/St. John?” She posed that question to Marvin Pickering, the Commission’s chairman. Referring to current laws, the lawmaker asked “has this piece of legislation that was created done what it was supposed to do for the island of St. Croix?” Senator James suggested that such operations move to “where [money] is being made.”

Mr. Pickering was amenable, “as long as they're under the purview of the Casino Control Commission.” In St. Thomas/St. John, the V.I. Lottery currently has oversight for sanctioned gaming machines.

The conversation then shifted to whether there was the will to make the necessary amendments. “What's preventing us from trying to make some more money?” asked committee chair Senator Hubert Frederick. Senator Novelle Francis opined that the solution is “political will.” “When you're ready to have that conversation, see me. Until then, we'll continue to chase the chickens,” Sen. Francis told Sen. Frederick.