Caesars Virginia opened casino in Danville
Source: virginiabusiness
On May 15, the first bets were taken at the 40,000-square-foot temporary Caesars Virginia casino in Danville, while a $650 million permanent resort casino is being built next door.
Caesars has now opened its temporary Danville, Virginia casino. The property opened its doors following a ribbon-cutting ceremony. The transitory venue is set to operate until the launch of the permanent Caesars Virginia, scheduled to debut in late 2024. The temporary casino opened with eager attendees trying out their luck and seeing the new venue for themselves. As per reports, the temporary casino is likely to bring in $12.1 million in additional revenue, and the full casino is projected to bring in more than $39 million in revenue.
The temporary casino looks like a simple white tent on the outside, but the inside feels “very much like you’re in any casino in the country,” says Chris Albrecht, senior vice president and general manager of Caesars Virginia.
Albrecht has worked at Caesars Entertainment Inc. casinos across the nation for the past 18 years but says it’s the first time he’s opened a temporary casino. It’s a challenge not having the full set of amenities and tools of a permanent casino, he says, but he’s dedicated to making the experience great for customers.
The 40,000-square-foot temporary casino includes 740 slot machines, eight sports betting kiosks, 25 live table games, including blackjack, roulette and baccarat, 28 electronic table games of blackjack, roulette and craps, and a quick-service restaurant, Three Stacks.
Alonzo Jones, Mayor of Danville, said: “Danville is really excited. Our phones have been blowing off the hook. Caesars have done everything they said they were going to do for the City of Danville.”
Hiring began in January, and the temporary casino has about 400 workers, about a quarter of who are table games dealers.
A partnership between Caesars Entertainment and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI), Caesars Virginia started construction in August 2022 on the permanent casino, which is expected to open in late 2024. Plans call for 500 hotel rooms, a spa, a pool, bars, a 2,500-person entertainment venue and 40,000 square feet of meeting and convention space. It will have at least 1,300 slots, 85 live game tables, 24 electronic table games, a poker room and sportsbook.
Caesars Virginia received the green light to operate on April 26, when the Virginia Lottery Board approved its license, making it the third casino to receive state approval.
