Casinos in Virginia

This page contains background information on the three casinos in Virginia: Rivers Casino Portsmouth, Caesars, and Hard Rock Bristol.

By: Dan Bradley

| April 3, 2024

Table of contents

Are there legal casinos in Virginia?
List of all casinos in Virginia
Are any new casinos opening in Virginia in the near future?
Timeline of casinos in Virginia
FAQ

Just one of the three casinos in Virginia has already opened its doors to eager gamblers, but two others are on the way, set to enter the market in 2024. While online casino gambling in Virginia remains unlikely for the foreseeable future, brick-and-mortar casinos will lay the foundation for future iGaming expansion.

In this piece, we’ll review the casinos in Virginia, both those that have already opened and those that will be arriving soon. We’ll also discuss plans for future casino expansion and what Virginians can expect when gambling at the casino facilities.

Are there legal casinos in Virginia?

Yes, there are legal casinos in Virginia. In 2020, the state legislature first approved the establishment of casinos in VA; however, casinos were limited to a choice of location from just five cities (Bristol, Danville, Norfolk, Portsmouth, and Richmond), three of which have since passed referendums to allow gambling within the city limits.

As of writing, only one casino (Rivers Casino Portsmouth) has opened in full. Caesars Virginia and Hard Rock Bristol have both soft-launched their operations but have yet to fully launch in their new facilities.

List of all casinos in Virginia

There is only one casino that has opened in Virginia, but two others are on the way and scheduled for a 2024 launch. We will update this page accordingly at that time, as well as make any new additions as needed to this list of all casinos in Virginia.

Rivers Casino Portsmouth

Rivers Casino in Portsmouth opened on January 23, 2023, and in doing so, it became the state’s first permanent full-service casino (Hard Rock was the first to open but only in a temporary capacity). The facility is an extension of the Rivers casino chain headquartered in Pittsburgh.

The city of Portsmouth began pushing for a casino in 2019 and approved Rush Street Interactive (Rivers’ parent company) to build their gambling facility on a 50-acre lot adjacent to Tidewater Community College. Rivers Casino has designated smoking and non-smoking areas on the gaming floor, with both table and slot games in the non-smoking section (the split is 50-50).

Address: 3630 Victory Blvd Portsmouth, VA 23701
Contact information: https://www.riverscasino.com/portsmouth/, (757) 840-2278, Email via form on website

Caesars Virginia

Caesars is planning a full launch of its hotel and casino in Danville in late 2024, but the temporary building is open for use in the meantime. When open in full, the venue will feature a 340-room hotel and a gaming floor with more than 1,300 slots and nearly 100 table games.

In addition to those gaming spaces, Caesars Virginia will be a retail home for Caesars Sportsbook Virginia, allowing players to make their wagers and collect winnings in person. There will also be a dedicated World Series of Poker room and a 2,500-seat entertainment center, expected to attract a wide range of entertainers for live performances.

Address: 1100 W. Main St. Danville, VA 24541
Contact information: https://www.caesars.com/caesars-virginia, (434) 483-4500, Email via form on website

Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Bristol

Finally, Hard Rock Hotel & Casino was the first to open in Virginia, but it was only open at a temporary venue. The soft opening was held on July 8, 2022, and the full launch (at the site of the old Bristol Mall) is scheduled for July 2024. No firm date has been set for the new facility, and the temporary option will remain open until the permanent facility is ready.

Hard Rock’s loyalty program is already in effect for Virginia players who can complete registration for “Unity by Hard Rock” at the temporary facility. Members need a valid phone number and email address, as well as age verification to prove they are of legal age to gamble.

Address: 500 Gate City Hwy Bristol, VA 24201
Contact information: https://casino.hardrock.com/bristol, (276) 696-3660 and (844) 490-7625, Email via form on website

Are any new casinos opening in Virginia in the near future?

Yes, there are new casinos opening in Virginia in the near future. Both Caesars Virginia and Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Bristol are scheduled to open in 2024.

In addition to those two, a casino in Norfolk is expected to break ground in spring 2024 and open in November 2025. HeadWaters Resort & Casino was approved in 2020 but it has taken some time while working through bureaucratic red tape to get the $500 million building up and operating.

Timeline of casinos in Virginia

Here is a brief timeline of the casino history of Virginia.

2018: Coal barons Jim McGlothlin and Clyde Stacy announce their intentions to bring a casino at the site of the recently closed Bristol Mall (the mall closed in 2017).
2019: Hard Rock Casino announces its goal of partnering with local ownership in launching a Virginia casino, including with McGlothlin and Stacy. Also, Portsmouth’s city council approves the casino construction plan proposed by Rush Street Interactive.
November 2020: The Virginia legislature approves a referendum to allow casino gambling in the state, though the new law only allowed for a small number of approved facilities. The Virginia Lottery is tasked with overseeing and regulating casino operations.
December 2021: Construction begins on Rivers Casino.
July 2022: Hard Rock opens its temporary casino operation, becoming Virginia’s first temporary casino facility.
August 2022: The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians announces its joint venture with Caesars Entertainment for the construction and operation of Caesars Virginia.
January 2023: Rivers Casino opens in full capacity as Virginia’s first permanent full-service casino.
May 2023: Danville Casino opens as the temporary version of Caesars Virginia.
July 2024: Hard Rock Hotel & Casino is expected to open in full in Bristol.
November 2025: HeadWaters Resort & Casino is expected to open in Norfolk.

FAQ

Which casino games can I play in Virginia?

While games will be somewhat limited at the temporary facilities, the casino games you can play in Virginia once permanent facilities are open include slots, blackjack, roulette, Texas Hold’em, craps, baccarat, video poker, and many more options. These are all currently available at Rivers Casino Portsmouth and will be arriving soon at Caesars Virginia in Danville and Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Bristol.

Do Virginia casinos offer non-gambling amenities like dining and entertainment?

Yes, Virginia casinos offer non-gambling amenities like dining and entertainment. You’ll be able to find live music, stand up comedians, and many more performers at casinos in VA, as well as a mix of formal and casual cuisine options.

Are there any exclusive promotions or rewards programs for casino players in Virginia?

Yes, there are exclusive promotions and rewards programs for casino players in Virginia. Caesars, Hard Rock, and Rivers all have rewards programs that Virginians can enroll in now, and there are frequent promotions for new and returning players alike.

Do Virginia casinos have hotels or accommodations for overnight guests?

Yes, some Virginia casinos do have hotels and accommodations for overnight guests. Hard Rock and Caesars have hotels planned when opening their permanent locations, and Rivers Casino is in the process of bringing a hotel to its facility.

Author Details

Dan Bradley

Dan Bradley, a sports betting expert and author at VA Betting, brings a unique perspective with his background in junior hockey. Outside of evaluating Virginia sportsbooks, Dan dedicates his time to watching as many NHL games as he can.