Rivers Casino Portsmouth is off to a great start in Hampton Roads. The first full-service casino in Virginia cleared $9 million in revenue its opening six days. Rush Street Gaming held its grand opening on Monday, Jan. 23, 2023. You’ll find it south of I-264.

A Nov. 3, 2020, vote of approval from Portsmouth residents made the arrival of Rivers Casino Portsmouth possible.

In fact, it will be one of two casino resorts in Hampton Roads since Norfolk voters also approved a casino referendum. The Portsmouth casino and the Norfolk casino will be located just eight miles apart and separated by the Elizabeth River.

Well before Election Day, the city of Portsmouth announced Rush Street Gaming as its preferred casino partner on the project.

Key launch dates for Rivers Casino Portsmouth

After June 1: Portsmouth officials must submit their preferred casino partner information to the Virginia Lottery for an initial review

August 2020: Deadline to order a referendum for November’s General Election

Nov. 3, 2020: General Election

Early December 2020: Portsmouth casino election results certified by the Secretary of State

April 2021: Rush Street Gaming officials can apply for its casino operator license

Dec. 7 2021: Groundbreaking for Rivers Casino Portsmouth

Nov. 16, 2022: The Virginia Lottery Board approved the casino’s operator license

Nov. 21, 2022: Developers announce the Jan. 15, 2023, opening date

Jan. 23, 2023: A new opening day for Rivers Casino Portsmouth goes off without a hitch. They needed more time to test the gaming machines before opening.

Rivers Casino Portsmouth details

The $340 million Rivers Casino Portsmouth is located at Victory Boulevard and Cavalier Boulevard just off Interstate 264.

Rush Street agreed to pay the city at least $10 million to acquire the land and by law will be required to invest a minimum of $300 million into the project.

The Rivers Casino Portsmouth will include:

• 57 table games
• 1,448 slot machines
• 24 poker tables in a dedicated poker room
• Topgolf Swing Suites, which overlook the sportsbook area at the casino
• high-end dining at Admiral’s Steak and Seafood
• casual dining at Crossings Café
• Asian cuisine at Mian; plus, Slice Pizzeria, Starbucks and
• the Sound Bar, an intimate stage and lounge area. It will host local bands, DJs, and more.

About Rush Street Gaming

Portsmouth city officials cite Rush Street Gaming’s commitment to the communities they operate in as one of the main reasons for selecting the company as its casino partner.

Rush Street’s 1,400-member construction team is about to wrap up the initial phase of the project ahead of the grand opening. Rivers Casino Portsmouth won’t have a hotel at first. But the casino alone will create about 1,300 permanent jobs.

Rush Street officials expect the casino to generate approximately $16 million annually in new tax revenue for Portsmouth. They also expect the resort could account for nearly an additional $200 million pumped annually into the Portsmouth region.

Besides jobs, Rush Street will bring its community engagement program, Rivers Gives, to Portsmouth. The program supports local employees who give to area nonprofits. It is just one way the company integrates into the communities it serves.

Rush Street also operates casinos in Pennsylvania, Illinois and New York.

Nearby competition

Just across the Elizabeth River from Portsmouth lies another casino host city: Norfolk.

The City of Norfolk selected the Pamunkey Indian Tribe as its preferred casino partner. The Pamunkey Casino Resort Norfolk is a $500 million project. It will include a 300-room hotel, entertainment venue, and all the amenities one would expect in a luxurious casino resort property.

Officials from both projects have long maintained that there’s room for casinos in both Portsmouth and Norfolk.

The Hampton Roads region will be the only area in Virginia that will have two casinos within such close proximity.