Virginia’s Full-Service Casino Opening Date 

Casino enthusiasts in Virginia have been given a date to mark in their calendars. The first permanent, full-service casino in Virginia will open on Sunday, January 15, 2023, at 3 pm local time.

Rush Street Gaming will operate Rivers Casino Portsmouth, and it will be part of the soon-to-be-built Entertainment District in Portsmouth, Virginia. Construction on the US$340-million casino began in December 2021.

Slot Machines, Table Games, and a Dedicated Poker Room

Rivers Casino Portsmouth obtained a gaming license from the Virginia Lottery Board at the beginning of November. When it opens, it will boast 1,448 slot machines and 57 gaming tables. The 24/7 casino will also have a dedicated poker room with 24 tables.

In addition, the full-scale Rush Street Gaming casino will have ten bars and restaurants, an event centre (to host weddings, conventions, and expos), as well as a sound bar, where local DJs and bands will perform. 

The casino has been generating jobs during the construction stage, but it has now started hiring team members that will work on the gaming floor too. 

According to Rush Street Gaming, the casino will continue to hire personnel in the coming weeks, and they expect the casino to employ as many as 1,300 people when it opens in January.

Virginia Will Have Four Full-Scale Casinos

The Rivers Casino Portsmouth will be the first full-scale casino in Virginia, but gambling enthusiasts are already wagering in the Old Dominion. 

That’s because the first Virginia casino, Hard Rock Bristol, already opened its doors earlier this year after it obtained a license from the Lottery Board on 27 April. However, the casino operating from the former Bristol Mall is not a full-scale gambling venue, but a temporary one. 

In addition to Portsmouth and Bristol, Danville and Norfolk will open casinos too. These are expected to launch in 2024.