The team behind the $1.4 billion Live! Casino resort in Petersburg is set to debut a 75,000-square-foot temporary gaming facility next month, providing the local community with an initial look at the ambitious project that aims to revitalize a 100-acre area on the city’s south side.
Cordish Cos. and Bruce Smith Enterprise are aiming for a launch date of January 22, contingent on receiving the green light from the Virginia Lottery. The temporary venue will boast around 900 slot machines, 30 table games, a bar, and a fast-casual dining option, as reported by Richmond BizSense.
“We are fully prepared (for the opening) from a training perspective,” stated Cordish Gaming President Rob Norton, noting that “by the end of this week, this casino will be operational.”
The temporary structure will be dismantled once the permanent Live! Casino resort opens its doors in 2027. Construction on the complete facility commenced in March, with AnderCorp as the contractor. The finished project is anticipated to offer over 450,000 square feet of gaming, 1,600 slot machines, a 22-table poker room, a 200-room hotel, diverse dining options, more than 75,000 square feet for meetings and conventions, and a 4,000-seat entertainment venue.
Anticipated economic benefits from this project include a $2.8 billion boost to the local economy and an expected $240 million in tax revenue for Petersburg within its first ten years of operation.
The temporary casino is projected to create about 500 jobs, with around 100 dealer positions available and approximately 60% of those roles already filled. Recruitment efforts are underway at a city center recruitment hub located in a former Pepsi warehouse. Furthermore, workforce training is progressing, as Richard Bland College recently celebrated the graduation of its inaugural class of 75 students from its dedicated dealer-training program. Executives from Live! Casino have indicated that some personnel will be transitioned from other establishments within the brand’s portfolio.
The future permanent casino is forecasted to generate over 6,100 construction jobs and add 1,400 permanent jobs over the span of its first decade.
This initiative has received substantial community support, with 80% of Petersburg voters endorsing the casino referendum in 2024, marking the highest level of support for such a measure in Virginia. Petersburg became eligible after residents of Richmond rejected a separate casino proposal twice, prompting the General Assembly to authorize Petersburg as a casino host locality the following April. Subsequently, the City Council appointed Cordish as the development partner.
Live! Casino Virginia will mark the brand’s fifth location, complementing existing venues in Maryland, Louisiana, and two in Pennsylvania.