The commencement of the Caesars Virginia Casino project in Danville was symbolically initiated by a small number of ceremonial dirt turns, signaling the beginning of the $650 million endeavor.
Danville, located in southern Virginia, is home to approximately 43,000 residents and will soon witness the construction of an inland casino, conveniently situated less than an hour away from Greensboro, NC.
Although dignitaries held onto golden shovel handles on Thursday, the slot machine levers in Danville will not be pulled anytime soon. Caesars Entertainment and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians have joined forces for this project, but the casino resort will not be fully operational until late 2025.
In a press release, Anthony Carano, the President and CEO of Caesars Entertainment, expressed his enthusiasm for collaborating with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, a trusted partner of Caesars Entertainment for over two decades, to construct an exceptional Caesars resort in Danville.
The arrival of Caesars in Virginia’s casinos is a highly anticipated and appreciated addition to the state. With over 50 owned and managed casinos scattered across the United States, the company brings a wealth of experience and expertise to the table.
What to expect at Caesars Virginia Casino
During Thursday’s ceremony, construction crews paused their work while attendees at the Dan River Inc. site in Schoolfield could still observe ongoing excavation in the background.
The Virginia casino project, once finished, will showcase:
- A 2,500-seat theater
- 500 hotel rooms
- There is a total of 40,000 square feet available for meetings and conventions.
- The gaming floor is of exceptional quality, boasting 1,300 slot machines, 85 live table games, 24 electronic table games, a prestigious WSOP poker room, and a retail sportsbook operated by Caesars.
- full-service spa
- swimming pool
- in addition to top-notch bars and restaurants.
The project was deemed a crucial opportunity for his people by Principal Chief Richard Sneed of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.
He added, “We are thrilled to extend and enhance our long-standing and prosperous collaboration with Caesars Entertainment.”
While construction continues in Danville, the company is also urging Virginians to enroll and utilize Caesars Sportsbook in Virginia.
Casinos are new to Virginia
During the 2020 session, Virginia legislators granted their approval for casino gaming. Nevertheless, the plans for proposed casino cities still required the endorsement of the voters.
In November 2020, a vote was held in Danville along with three other cities. The outcome of the vote in all four cities was a resounding “yes.” Consequently, the Caesars Virginia Casino will be joined by these cities.
- While the $400 million project is underway, operators in Bristol have already established a temporary casino at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Bristol site.
- A temporary casino called The Pamunkey Club will be opened by the casino operators in Norfolk at HeadWaters Resort and Casino. The casino will be located in the east side parking lot of Harbor Park Stadium and is scheduled to open in March 2025. The HeadWaters project, which has a completion date set for late 2025, is estimated to cost $500 million.
- The construction of Rivers Casino Portsmouth began in December 2021, with developers having already commenced the project. Recently, construction crews completed the placement of the final steel beam. Anticipated to be a $300 million resort, it is scheduled to open its doors in early 2025.
Despite being two years behind in its efforts, Richmond has the potential to become the fifth casino city in Virginia. The city conducted its vote in 2021, which was a whole year later than the other casino votes.
The One Resort + Casino plans were not approved by voters, prompting Richmond to make another attempt in 2025.
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