The Live! Casino Virginia opened its doors for the first time on Thursday after years of legal battles and political scandals. The temporary Petersburg property joins gambling facilities in Portsmouth, Danville, and Bristol. Another is under development in Norfolk.
People flocked to the 75,000 square foot 24/7 temporary casino close to I-95 in time for the 5pm opening. Some individuals accidentally arrived on Tuesday after getting the day wrong. The facility includes 900 slot games, 30 table games, a high-limit gaming area, and 1,000 free parking spaces. It also brings 500 new jobs to the area. The permanent $1.4bn casino is still under construction, with plans to open by the end of 2027.
Petersburg replaced Richmond as the fifth city in Virginia eligible to develop a casino
The project overcame plenty of hurdles since Petersburg replaced Richmond as the fifth city in Virginia eligible to develop a casino. Efforts by Richmond officials to get back on the list led Petersburg to put its project on hold.
After Richmond voters rejected the proposal a second time in 2023, over 80% of Petersburg voters approved it in November 2024, the strongest approval among the five cities.
Controversy over the selection of The Cordish Companies as the casino partner ensued. A development partnership with local legend and NFL Hall of Famer Bruce Smith eventually won local support.
