In order to open a new casino in Virginia, Rush Street Gaming, a leading Illinois-based casino operator, has officially obtained a license from the Virginia Lottery Board. The regulator unanimously issued a license for Rivers Casino Portsmouth,  the second license granted in Virginia.

New license:

With this new license, Virginia shows its credibility and integrity when it comes to licensing operators.

The first license was issued in April this year to Bristol’s Hard Rock Hotel and Casino. The company opened its short-term casino in July this year and its 2 more scheduled casinos are in the licensing process in Danville and Norfolk.

Kelly T. Gee, Virginia Lottery Executive Director, said: “The lottery’s gaming compliance department and legal counsel assisted in today’s decision by conducting investigations and background checks on the applicants.

“The lottery works with all casino applicants, their vendors and employees to make sure all aspects of the operation are in strict compliance with Virginia law.”

Rivers Casino Portsmouth:

This 340 million dollars casino project is scheduled to become fully operational by early 2023. It will be located at the intersection of Victory and Cavalier boulevards, off interstate 264.

The casino will include 1,448 slots, 57 table games, 24 poker tables, 5 restaurants/bars, banquet and event space.

The operator officially certified 147 new live-dealers, another 347 will graduate soon and 50% of the new employees are minorities.

Rush Street Gaming‘s goal is to employ 1,300 full-time employees, but it has hired 800 so far.

Official construction of the casino began in December 2021, with Virginia Beach-based S.B. Ballard Construction Co. and Philadelphia-based Yates Construction as general administrators.

Roy Corby, General Manager at the Rivers Casino Portsmouth, said: “Rivers Casino Portsmouth avoided supply chain issues and inflation-related cost increases by securing materials in advance.

“Our Rivers Casino Portsmouth team is grateful to the Virginia Lottery Board for their thoughtful and thorough consideration. We look forward to sharing the timing and details of our early 2023 grand opening with the Hampton Roads community very soon.”

Rush Street Gaming has opened a 2,137-square-foot office in a coworking space on High Street in Olde Towne, with the aim of providing space for more administrative departments and providing recruitment assistance in July, 2022.

Ferhan Hamid, board chairman at the Rivers Casino Portsmouth, said: ” The gaming landscape in Virginia continues to evolve and the Lottery Board is committed to ensuring that casinos in the commonwealth are operated responsibly, fairly and with the utmost integrity.

“While not all Virginians will choose to visit these facilities, all of our citizens need to be confident that they are regulated with the very highest standards.”