Caesars Virginia Casino Gets Ceremonial Start In Danville

A few ceremonial turns of dirt marked the start of the $650 million Caesars Virginia Casino project in Danville.

The inland casino is going up less than an hour away from Greensboro, NC. Danville is home to about 43,000 residents in southern Virginia.

While dignitaries gripped golden shovel handles on Thursday, slot machine levers won’t be pulled in Danville anytime soon. Caesars Entertainment and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians are working together on the project. They won’t have the casino resort fully ready until late 2024.

“We are excited to build a world-class Caesars resort in Danville with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, a valued partner of Caesars Entertainment for more than 20 years,” Caesars Entertainment President and CEO Anthony Carano said in a press release.

Casinos in Virginia bringing in Caesars is a welcome addition to the state. The company has more than 50 owned and managed casinos around the US.

What to expect at Caesars Virginia Casino

Construction crews took a break for Thursday’s ceremony. But, attendees could see excavation work in the background at the Dan River Inc. site in Schoolfield.

The completed Virginia casino project will feature:

• A 2,500-seat theater
• 500 hotel rooms
• 40,000 square feet of meeting and convention space
• a world-class gaming floor with
  • 1,300 slots
  • 85 live table games
  • 24 electronic table games
  • WSOP poker room
  • Caesars retail sportsbook
• full-service spa
• swimming pool
• plus high-quality bars and restaurants.

Principal Chief Richard Sneed of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians called the project a vital opportunity for his people.

“We are excited to be expanding our longstanding and successful partnership with Caesars Entertainment,” he added.

The company also encouraged Virginians to sign up and use Caesars Sportsbook in Virginia while construction continues in Danville.

Casinos are new to Virginia

Virginia lawmakers approved casino gaming in the 2020 session. Voters still had to sign off on plans in proposed casino cities, however.

Danville and three other cities held a November 2020 vote. All four cities voted “yes.” Joining the Caesars Virginia Casino are:

• Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Bristol — Operators in Bristol have already opened a temporary casino while construction continues on a $400 million project.
• HeadWaters Resort and Casino in Norfolk — The casino operators in Norfolk will open a temporary casino as well. The Pamunkey Club is going up in the east side parking lot of Harbor Park Stadium. Plans call for a March 2023 opening. The HeadWaters project will cost $500 million and has a late 2023 completion date.
• Rivers Casino Portsmouth — Developers already broke ground in December 2021. Construction crews raised the final steel beam just a few weeks ago. The $300 million resort is set to open in early 2023.

Richmond could become a fifth Virginia casino city. Efforts there are about two years behind, however. The city held its vote in 2021. It was a full year later than the other casino votes.

Voters didn’t approve the One Resort + Casino plans. So, Richmond will try again in 2023.