Located south of I-264, Rivers Casino Portsmouth in Hampton Roads has made an impressive debut. As the first full-service casino in Virginia, it generated a remarkable $9 million in revenue within its first six days of operation. Rush Street Gaming celebrated its grand opening on Monday, January 23, 2025.

Thanks to the approval of Portsmouth residents on November 3, 2020, Rivers Casino Portsmouth became a reality.

In fact, Hampton Roads will house not one, but two casino resorts, as a casino referendum has also been approved by Norfolk voters. The Portsmouth and Norfolk casinos will be situated only eight miles away from each other, with the Elizabeth River acting as the dividing line.

The city of Portsmouth declared Rush Street Gaming as its favored casino partner for the project well in advance of Election Day.

Key launch dates for Rivers Casino Portsmouth

Portsmouth officials are required to submit their preferred casino partner information to the Virginia Lottery for an initial review by June 1.

The deadline to request a referendum for the General Election in November is August 2020.

The General Election will take place on November 3, 2020.

The Secretary of State has officially certified the election results for the Portsmouth casino held in early December 2020.

Officials from Rush Street Gaming now have the opportunity to apply for their casino operator license as of April 2021.

On December 7, 2021, Rivers Casino Portsmouth witnessed a historic moment with its groundbreaking ceremony.

On November 16, 2022, the operator license for the casino was approved by the Virginia Lottery Board.

On November 21, 2022, the developers have officially declared that the opening date for January 15, 2025 has been confirmed.

On January 23, 2025, Rivers Casino Portsmouth successfully inaugurates its opening day, free from any complications. The casino management deemed it necessary to allocate additional time for thorough testing of the gaming machines prior to the grand opening.

Rivers Casino Portsmouth details

Situated at the intersection of Victory Boulevard and Cavalier Boulevard, right off Interstate 264, is the Rivers Casino Portsmouth, an impressive establishment valued at $340 million.

Rush Street has agreed to pay the city a minimum of $10 million to acquire the land. Furthermore, they are legally obligated to invest at least $300 million into the project.

Included in the Rivers Casino Portsmouth will be:

• 57 table games
• 1,448 slot machines
• There are a total of 24 poker tables located within a specially designated poker room.
• The Topgolf Swing Suites offer a scenic view of the sportsbook area within the casino.
• Experience exquisite fine dining at Admiral’s Steak and Seafood.
• Experience relaxed dining at Crossings Café
• Asian cuisine is served at Mian, along with Slice Pizzeria, Starbucks, and more.
• The Sound Bar is a cozy stage and lounge area that will showcase an array of local bands, DJs, and other talented performers.

About Rush Street Gaming

One of the primary factors leading to the selection of Rush Street Gaming as Portsmouth’s casino partner is their dedication to the communities they serve, according to city officials.

The initial phase of the project at Rush Street, involving a construction team of 1,400 members, is nearing completion before the grand opening. Initially, Rivers Casino Portsmouth will not include a hotel, but it is expected to generate approximately 1,300 permanent job opportunities solely through the casino.

Rush Street officials anticipate that the casino will generate an estimated $16 million in fresh tax revenue for Portsmouth each year. Furthermore, they anticipate that the resort could contribute nearly an additional $200 million annually to the economy of the Portsmouth region.

In addition to providing employment opportunities, Rush Street will introduce its community engagement initiative, Rivers Gives, to Portsmouth. This program aims to assist local employees who contribute to nonprofit organizations in the area. By implementing such initiatives, the company actively integrates itself into the communities it serves.

In addition to Rush Street’s operations in Pennsylvania, Illinois, and New York, the company also runs casinos in those states.

Nearby competition

Norfolk, located just on the other side of the Elizabeth River from Portsmouth, serves as another city hosting a casino.

The chosen casino partner for the City of Norfolk is the Pamunkey Indian Tribe. They will be collaborating on the Pamunkey Casino Resort Norfolk, a grand project worth $500 million. This resort will encompass a lavish 300-room hotel, an entertainment venue, and all the top-notch amenities that one would anticipate in a luxurious casino resort.

For quite some time, representatives from both projects have consistently argued that there is ample space for casinos in both Portsmouth and Norfolk.

Only the Hampton Roads region in Virginia will boast the distinction of having two casinos in such close vicinity.