Boyd Gaming and the Pamunkey Indian Tribe are moving closer to opening their temporary gaming facility in Norfolk, Virginia. The interim casino, named The Interim Gaming Hall, is set to open by November 15, 2025, providing a glimpse of the full-scale resort planned for completion by late 2027. The gaming hall will be housed in a large tent structure situated between Harbor Park and the Amtrak station in Norfolk, just steps away from the planned permanent casino site.

Norfolk’s Temporary Casino Ready for November Launch

“We wouldn’t be involved with this project if we didn’t think we could get it across the finish line on time,” said Ron Bailey, Vice President and General Manager of the Norfolk casino. Bailey emphasized that the temporary facility would be a prelude to the major resort coming to the city, offering a memorable gaming experience and superior customer service.

This interim setup will feature over 130 slot machines, offering a limited gaming selection as a preview of what is to come. Despite being temporary, it’s designed to provide a taste of the upcoming venue’s entertainment offerings and hospitality. For the community, this new addition marks the first step in Norfolk’s journey toward becoming a major destination for gaming and entertainment in the region.

While the temporary gaming hall will soon be up and running, the focus remains on the larger resort that will replace it. Plans for the full casino in Norfolk, which will be officially named at a later date, have progressed significantly since Boyd Gaming became involved. The permanent casino will include a 65,000-square-foot gambling hall, a 200-room hotel, and a parking deck.

In addition to its gambling facilities, the resort will feature eight food and beverage outlets, a spa, a fitness center, and an outdoor pool and cabana deck. Boyd Gaming has committed to investing over $750 million in the Norfolk casino, well above the city’s $300 million minimum requirement. Boyd Vice President of Governmental Affairs, Ryan Soultz, emphasized that this will be “a true destination resort,” offering a complete experience for visitors.

Licensing Hearing Before the Virginia Lottery Board

The city of Norfolk’s location, close to the Virginia Beach area and not far from the eastern U.S. coast, positions it as an ideal place for this type of development. The city’s approval of new land leases for casino-related parking and staging areas has facilitated the ongoing construction process. Boyd Gaming and the Pamunkey Tribe are eager to contribute to the city’s growth while delivering a premium gaming experience that draws visitors from across the region.

Ron Bailey assured local residents that the temporary casino will be ready well before its November deadline. He noted the substantial progress already made on-site, including the installation of hundreds of concrete piles as the foundation for the resort. “A lot of work is happening. We have hundreds and hundreds of those, getting the foundation together. It’s well underway,” he added.

The next pivotal step for the Norfolk project comes on October 29, 2025, when Boyd Gaming and the Pamunkey Indian Tribe will appear before the Virginia Lottery Board in Richmond for a public hearing on their casino operator license application.

The Virginia Lottery currently oversees all casino operations in the state under Virginia Code §58.1-4100 et seq., which governs casino gaming regulation. The law requires that all casino operators obtain a formal license from the Lottery Board following an extensive investigation and background review. Localities have five years from the certification of their gaming referendum to secure such a license.

Norfolk voters approved their casino referendum on November 3, 2020, with the state certifying results two weeks later on November 18, 2020. This means the city must complete the licensing process by late 2025—precisely the deadline this month’s hearing addresses.

As The Virginian- Pilot reported via Yahoo News, Khalid Jones, Executive Director of the Virginia Lottery, explained the significance of the meeting, “The final step is the Lottery Board votes and issues (a) license after a public hearing on the application review, one of which will happen next week.”

If approved, Boyd Gaming and the Pamunkey Tribe will be fully authorized to operate both the temporary casino and the permanent Norfolk resort under Virginia’s gaming framework. The decision will also set the stage for continued compliance obligations, including routine audits, tax reporting, and responsible gaming initiatives.