In 2024, Virginia’s three casinos posted impressive gains, with a total of nearly $732 million in adjusted gaming revenues (AGR), marking an almost 32% increase from the previous year. The state’s gambling sector, consisting of Rivers Casino Portsmouth, Caesars Virginia in Danville, and Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Bristol, has shown strong growth. Rivers Casino Portsmouth led the charge, surpassing its competitors in both overall earnings and year-over-year growth.

Rivers Casino Portsmouth dominates with record revenue:

Rivers Casino Portsmouth reported a remarkable $309 million in AGR for 2024, a substantial jump from its 2023 earnings, which totaled just under $250 million. This success comes on the heels of the casino’s grand opening in January 2023, following its approval for a license in November 2022. The facility offers a wide range of gaming options, including slots, table games, a poker room, and electronic table games, as well as a dedicated high-limit room for high-stakes players.

The casino’s growth has been consistent, with revenues outpacing those of other Virginia casinos. According to 13 News Now, Rivers’ earnings in 2024 were approximately $70 million more than Caesars Virginia’s total and about $230 million more than Hard Rock Bristol’s performance. Additionally, the venue has hosted major events, including stand-up performances by Tracy Morgan in November 2024 and Jay Pharoah in March 2025, further boosting its profile.

Caesars Virginia, which operated as a temporary casino from May 2023 to December 2024, saw impressive gains in 2024. The casino brought in $240 million in AGR, with a particularly strong finish in December, recording $28.3 million in revenue, likely driven by the grand opening of its permanent facility on December 17, 2024. For comparison, Caesars’ temporary operation in 2023 generated $145 million in AGR, reflecting the impact of its transition to a full-scale casino.

Hard Rock Bristol, which opened its permanent casino in November 2024, also saw significant improvements in its revenue figures. The permanent facility posted an AGR of $20.64 million in December, marking a substantial increase from the previous month’s $13.4 million at the temporary location. The new venue, which features 1,408 slot machines and 63 table games, helped Hard Rock reach a new high in revenue generation. The December total also marked a 35% increase from the casino’s last full month of operation as a temporary facility.

Hard Rock Bristol’s revenue surge reflects both the excitement surrounding the opening of its permanent location and an increase in gaming offerings, including a larger number of slots and tables. For the first month of operation, the casino welcomed over 17,000 visitors, further highlighting the appeal of the new facility. The casino contributed $1.28 million to the Regional Improvement Commission (RIC), which is dedicated to supporting local infrastructure and community programs across Southwest Virginia.

December 2024: a record-breaking month for Virginia casinos:

The month of December 2024 saw Virginia’s casinos collectively hit a record high for the year in terms of adjusted gaming revenue. The combined total for December was $74.91 million, with Caesars Virginia leading the pack at $28.3 million, followed by Rivers Casino Portsmouth at $25.9 million and Hard Rock Bristol at $20.6 million. This was the highest monthly revenue recorded across all three casinos, further underlining the sector’s continued growth and the strong demand for gaming options in Virginia.

As part of Virginia’s graduated tax structure for casino revenues, localities hosting casinos receive a share of the tax revenue generated. In December 2024, Portsmouth, Danville, and Bristol each benefited from this system, with Portsmouth receiving approximately $1.8 million, Danville $1.98 million, and Bristol $1.24 million. As reported by Virginia Business, a portion of the tax revenue—around $129,583—was allocated to the Problem Gambling Treatment and Support Fund, while $32,395 went to the Family and Children’s Trust Fund.

In addition to the strong performances of the existing casinos, new developments are poised to add even more momentum to Virginia’s gaming industry. The long-awaited Norfolk casino resort, a $750 million project, is moving forward, with construction set to begin soon under the leadership of Boyd Gaming and the Pamunkey Indian Tribe. A temporary casino will open later in 2025 while the permanent facility is being built. Furthermore, in November 2024, voters in Petersburg overwhelmingly approved a casino referendum, signaling further expansion of Virginia’s gaming market.