Just A Placeholder: Hard Rock Bristol Wants To Offer Temporary Casino

It will take another four months before we can determine if Virginia casino gambling will be established in four out of the five designated casino host cities. The ultimate decision will rest in the hands of Virginia voters on Election Day, which falls on November 3rd.

Nevertheless, plans are still progressing despite this obstacle.

The five cities, along with their casino partners, are behaving as if the voters have already expressed their preferences, with particular emphasis on Hard Rock Casino Resort Bristol.

Hard Rock Bristol intends to seek a temporary casino license, as reported by WJHL’s News Channel 11. This license would allow them to provide gambling services while their resort project is under construction.

The Bristol Mall is set to house the casino, with its expansive 100,000-square-foot gaming floor taking up residence in the former Sears store.

The temporary casino is expected to be located within the mall premises, providing public access during the construction phase of the permanent casino.

The project team has released plans indicating various spots within the mall that could potentially accommodate slot machines and table games, offering multiple potential temporary homes for these gaming options.

The outcome of the referendum, which will be included on the general election ballot, will determine the course of events.

Hard Rock Casino Resort Bristol project plans

Last month, Hard Rock International was officially designated by the city of Bristol as its preferred casino partner. The city has recently submitted its choice to the Virginia Lottery for initial approval.

The conversion of Bristol Mall into a luxury casino-resort will be funded by a significant investment of $400 million from Hard Rock.

In addition to the aforementioned 100,000-square-foot casino, the plans encompass:

• 25,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art sportsbook
• Adjacent to the mall, there will be a construction of 600-750 hotel rooms.
• There are a total of 50 establishments, including restaurants, bars, and retail spaces.
• 100,000-square-foot convention center

It is estimated that approximately 80% of the casino-resort’s visitors will be from outside the state, emphasizing the significance of having a resort equipped with all the necessary amenities as a crucial component of the overall plan.

Big day: Lottery expands, sports betting becomes legal

Starting from July 1st, the VA Lottery will be broadening its range of online products. Presently, customers are limited to a minimum subscription of four games for Powerball and Mega Millions.

The online platform will feature a wide range of popular games for users to enjoy, such as:

• Individual Powerball and Mega Millions tickets
• Instant-win games
• Electronic version of scratchers

Retail sales will undoubtedly remain the primary source of revenue for the lottery, but online sales are expected to significantly contribute to its overall earnings. This development arrives at a crucial time, given the state’s financial difficulties caused by the pandemic.

On July 1, alongside the expansion of the online lottery in VA, the bill that legalizes sports betting has finally been enacted into law.

The commencement of the public comment period takes place a couple of weeks later, specifically on July 15th, and extends for a duration of 35 days, concluding on August 19th.

By September 15, the VA Lottery must release sports betting regulations, and it plans to commence accepting license applications by the end of September.

Online sports betting will be the primary method of wagering in Virginia.

In Virginia, the law permits a total of 18 licenses for sports betting, out of which 12 are untethered. This implies that online sports betting in VA will offer a favorable environment for bettors due to the anticipated high level of competition.

Hard Rock has expressed its intention to establish a retail sportsbook at its casino. Considering the other ongoing casino projects in VA, it appears that Hard Rock is the frontrunner in opening the initial land-based sportsbook.

The launch of casino gambling in Virginia has generated significant excitement, but there is still a lengthy journey ahead before we can experience the first pull of a slot machine.

The launch of VA online sports betting may occur several months or even a year earlier than casino gambling and in-person betting.