Published on: November 25, 2025, 04:32h.
Updated on: November 24, 2025, 03:32h.
- Live! Casino & Hotel Virginia in Petersburg is set to launch a temporary casino in January 2026
- The initial plan was to open the gaming area by year-end
The anticipated temporary gaming venue at Live! Casino & Hotel Virginia in Petersburg will not be ready to open this year as planned.
Originally, the Cordish Companies and their local partner, Bruce Smith Enterprise, aimed to unveil a 75K-square-foot climate-controlled tent hosting a temporary casino before the end of 2025. However, the latest update suggests the provisional gaming venue is now scheduled to open its doors on January 22, 2026.
“After years of preparation, we are excited to witness this dream transform into reality. When Live! Casino Virginia welcomes guests, central Virginia will experience its first full-scale casino with the thrilling energy of Vegas-style slots, live-action table games, and the unique excitement that only Live! can provide,” stated Rob Norton, president of Cordish Gaming.
The casino tent is strategically located next to the construction site of the upcoming resort, just off Interstate 95 at Wagner Road.
Casino Development in Petersburg
The first phase of the permanent development, which carries a $600 million price tag, will feature a 200-room hotel alongside a casino floor equipped with 1,600 slot machines, 60 table games, and a sportsbook. Planned amenities include multiple dining options, a pool complex, a fitness center, a 4,000-seat theater, and convention space. The grand opening of the permanent Live! Casino & Hotel Virginia is expected in 2027.
Should the initial phase prove successful, Cordish and Bruce Smith intend to move forward with further development plans, which include an $800 million investment into mixed-use projects comprising residential units, office spaces, retail outlets, a grocery store, and a public park.
Cordish and Bruce Smith gained approval for gaming in Virginia during the November 2024 elections, with Petersburg voters supporting their resort proposal through a local ballot initiative. In contrast, voters in Richmond had previously rejected a casino proposal twice, with affluent neighborhoods in the capital region cited as a reason for the defeats. Consequently, state lawmakers allocated the casino license opportunity to Petersburg, where community support was significantly stronger.
In the Petersburg referendum, the outcome favored Cordish and Bruce Smith, with over 80% of votes cast in favor of Live! Virginia.
Cordish is no newcomer to Virginia, having played a role in revitalizing Norfolk’s Waterside District. The company previously attempted to sue Norfolk after losing the bid for the city’s casino designation and was also unsuccessful in securing a partnership for Richmond’s casino project.
Currently, Cordish operates casinos across Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Louisiana, and soon it will extend its operations to a fourth state, Virginia.
Collaboration with Bruce Smith
Bruce Smith, a Hall of Fame NFL player, has successfully transitioned to a real estate career following his retirement from professional football.
The Norfolk native played for the Virginia Tech Hokies and spent the majority of his NFL career with the Buffalo Bills, where he earned a reputation as one of the greatest defensive ends in history. Now residing in Virginia Beach, Smith has developed hotels and residential properties from Washington, DC, to Blacksburg, Virginia, since founding his real estate firm over two decades ago.