Chavdar Vasilev is a journalist covering the casino and sports betting market sectors for CasinoBeats. He joined CasinoBeats in May 2025 and reports on industry-shaping stories across the US and beyond, including legislative debates, market...
Read Full BioVirginia’s fifth casino is nearing realization as the Live! Casino & Hotel‘s temporary casino will open on January 22, 2026, while the permanent facility’s construction continues. The temporary launch follows earlier estimates that suggested a late-2025 debut; however, development partners The Cordish Companies and Bruce Smith Enterprise have confirmed the official date.
“After years of planning, we’re thrilled to see this vision become reality,” Cordish Gaming Group President Rob Norton said in a statement.
“When Live! Casino Virginia opens its doors, Central Virginia will experience something truly exceptional — the region’s first full-scale casino featuring the electrifying energy of Vegas-style slots, live-action table games, and the signature excitement only Live! can deliver.”
What the Temporary Casino Will Offer
The temporary property will include:
- A 75,000-square-foot climate-controlled structure
- 900+ slot machines
- More than 30 live dealer table games
- A bar and quick-service dining
- 1,000+ parking spaces
The casino will employ roughly 500 employees, including around 100 dealers.
What the Permanent Resort Will Include
The permanent $1.4 billion Live! Casino & Hotel Virginia resort is planned for the same 100-acre site and is expected to open in 2027. The permanent resort is slated to include:
- A casino floor with 1,600 slot machines
- More than 60 table games, plus a poker room
- High-limit slot and table game rooms
- A 200-room hotel, including suites
- A resort-style pool and fitness center
- 70,000+ square feet of meeting, entertainment, and convention space
- Close to 20 dining and bar venues
- A 4,000-seat performance venue
- Expanded parking and new road access
Once completed, Petersburg’s casino will create 1,400 jobs.
How Petersburg Got Here
The casino in Petersburg is the direct result of Richmond voters rejecting the casino twice via referendums in 2021 and 2023. After the second, state lawmakers reopened the casino-site selection process, eventually selecting Petersburg.
Petersburg voters then approved their own referendum in November 2024 by a wide margin. That cleared the way for city leaders to negotiate directly with The Cordish Companies and Bruce Smith Enterprises.
The city’s selection of Cordish in April 2024 sparked controversy. The City Council chose the bid in a 90-minute closed session. Council members had not indicated that they planned to make a final decision during the meeting and refused to answer reporters’ questions about it.
Labor group UNITE HERE announced plans to sue the city over the selection process, alleging violations of open-meeting rules. As of now, there is no public indication that the union has filed the lawsuit.
Norfolk Casino Has Already Opened Its First Phase
The January opening of the Petersburg temporary casino follows the recent opening of the Norfolk temporary location.
The Norfolk casino was the first approved by voters in 2020, but development delays pushed the opening of its interim facility to late 2025. The Pamunkey Tribe and its partner, Boyd Gaming, are developing a permanent property, with a target opening date of 2027.
The resort will feature approximately 1,500 slot machines, 50 table games, a 200-room hotel, and multiple dining options.
Once the Petersburg location opens in January 2026, all five of Virginia’s approved casinos will be operational, at least through a temporary facility.
