Caesars Virginia Temporary Casino Could Open Next Summer

It might be a summer of slots in Danville, VA. Two casino executives hinted at Caesars Virginia temporary casino plans as part of a quarterly update on Nov. 1.

Caesars President and CEO Anthony Carano spelled out his company’s plans for the temporary Virginia casino in Danville. The Virginia city is less than an hour away from Greensboro, NC. It nestles the North Carolina border specifically to draw betting traffic from its neighbors to the south.

Carano mentioned a similar project in the Midwest in his update to investors. Caesars has a foothold in both Virginia and Nebraska. The horseracing states are expanding into the casino industry at about the same time.

“We expect to open temporary casinos in both Danville, VA, and Columbus, NE, by mid-year ’23,” Carano said in a Nov. 1 earnings call with investors.

Caesars Entertainment CEO Thomas Reeg confirmed the timeline. During the same call he said:

“We’ve got temporary casinos in Columbus, NE (and) Danville, VA, that will hit next year.”

The company has more than 50 casinos around the US.

Casino developers often set up temporary casinos. It gives them a chance to earn money while construction continues on half-billion resort projects near the same location. Three of Virginia’s four casino developers will open scaled-down gaming at a temporary site.

Beyond the Caesars Virginia temporary casino

Danville hosted an August groundbreaking ceremony for its $650 million project at the Dan River Inc. site in Schoolfield.

The Caesars Virginia casino project won’t be ready until late 2024. It 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.

Caesars Entertainment and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians are working together on the project.

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 Danville casino is on pace to be the most expensive of the four VA casinos under construction right now.

• 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. It has a late 2023 completion date.
• Rivers Casino Portsmouth — Developers already broke ground in December 2021. Construction crews raised the final steel beam over the summer. The $300 million resort is set to open in early 2023.

“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,” Carano said in August.