Caesars Entertainment’s temporary casino in Danville was approved for a license by the Virginia Lottery Board, which oversees landbased gambling and online sports wagering in the Old Dominion. The casino is set to commence operation on May 15 of this year and will become the third landbased gaming facility in the state. The company announced the news yesterday in a press release after a successful hearing from the regulatory body. The temporary facility, which spreads over 40,000 square feet, will open doors to customers at 10 a.m. ET and will provide its services around the clock while awaiting the successful completion of test dates with the watchdog.
Situated on Bishop Road, the temporary casino is expected to create as many as 400 job positions for the locals, according to company officials. The property will house 740 slot machines and 25 gaming tables for baccarat, roulette, poker, and blackjack. Customers will additionally have access to 28 electronic table games and will be able to place wagers on various sports events via eight self-service betting terminals. Guests of the facility will also have the chance to enroll in the Caesars Rewards loyalty program to start earning comps from their betting activities. A restaurant serving traditional American fare is also included in the property.
Dealer training has already commenced as company officials revealed earlier this month. Caesars Virginia plans on hiring 100 dealers for the temporary facility but the number will be even greater for the permanent casino. Approximately 80 locals have already joined the dealer training program. Trainees are being schooled for four hours a day during weekdays. The duration of the training depends on the number of games the future dealers will host.
The Permanent Casino Resort Is Slated to Open Late Next Year
As for the permanent Caesars Virginia casino resort, it is expected to commence operation toward the end of next year. The permanent facility will feature as many as 500 hotel rooms. The gaming floor will expand to include more than 1,300 slot machines as well as 24 electronic table games, 85 live tables, and a WSOP poker room. Punters visiting the property will be able to place bets at a full-fledged Caesars-branded sportsbook.
The premier resort destination will also feature various non-gaming facilities, including a massive entertainment venue with 2,500 seats, conference rooms, and convention halls that spread over 40,000 square feet of space. The resort is expected to attract clientele from the broader Danville area as well as from other states.
As Casino Games Pro reported, Caesars officials broke ground in August 2022. This is a joint project of Caesars Entertainment, EBCI Holdings, and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. The $650-million venture has also attracted private investments from Tammy Wright-Warren and Kirby Wright, members of the prominent local clan of the same name. Caesars Virginia is the third landbased gambling operator approved by the state regulator, the other two being Rivers Casino Portsmouth and Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Bristol.
