Temporary Live! Casino Virginia opens in Petersburg
The permanent venue is set to open in 2027.
US.- The Cordish Companies and Bruce Smith Enterprise have celebrated the opening of the temporary Live! Casino Virginia in Petersburg. The opening was attended by Virginia Lottery board chairman Ferhan Hamid and executive director Khalid Jones, Petersburg mayor Samuel Parham, members of Petersburg City Council and Pro Football legend Joe Theismann.
Community and business leaders also participated in the event. A $15m donation was presented to the City of Petersburg and local charities.
Located off I-95, the venue has 75,000 square feet of gaming space with more than 900 slot machines and over 30 table games. It has a bar and a quick-service restaurant and more than 1,000 free parking spaces.
Construction is underway on the permanent venue set to open in late 2027 on the same 100-acre site. The venue will cover approximately 445,000 square feet.
It will have a casino with 1,600 slot machines, more than 60 table games, including a 22-table poker room, high-limit slot and table areas and a sportsbook. It will also feature nearly 20 restaurants and bars. It will have more than 70,000 square feet of meeting, convention, and entertainment space, a 200-room hotel featuring 25 suites, a pool, and a fitness centre.
Penny Parayo, senior vice president and general manager of Live! Casino Virginia, said: “We couldn’t be more excited to officially welcome guests to Live! Casino Virginia. Our team has dedicated countless hours to prepare for this opening. As we continue to grow, we invite those interested in being part of our journey to visit our recruitment center to learn more.”
Jon Cordish, principal of The Cordish Companies, added: “We are proud to introduce an unparalleled entertainment experience to this market – the area’s first full-scale casino, offering the pulse-pounding excitement of Vegas-style slots, dynamic table games, and the unmistakable energy that defines the Live! Brand. Live Casino Virginia is a game-changing development, positioned to be a catalyst for entertainment, hospitality, and sustained economic growth throughout the region for decades to come.”
Bruce Smith, founder of Bruce Smith Enterprise, commented: “For far too long, this area has been a place people passed through rather than stopped to explore; today, that changes. Live! Casino Virginia will stand as a destination in its own right, and as someone deeply committed to this region and its people, I’m proud to help create opportunities that strengthen, inspire, and invest in the community for generations ahead.”
Samuel Parham, mayor of the City of Petersburg, said: “The influence Live! Casino Virginia is already having on Petersburg cannot be overstated. From the temporary casino to the future permanent resort, this project is poised to redefine the Tri-Cities and help shape the long-term trajectory of our region. This moment marks the beginning of a powerful new era.”
