Virginia Casinos Generate $81m In January Gaming Revenue

The Virginia State Lottery has reported its January casino gaming figures, showing that the state’s existing five retail casinos generated $81million in revenue for the month, up from $72.3m in January 2025. 

The rise was to be expected, thanks to the launch of two new casinos, albeit in temporary locations. 

Figures will likely see further increase after the Virginia State Senate voted to allow a new casino, previously earmarked for development in Tysons, to be built anywhere in Fairfax County. 

The Senate also narrowly passed an iGaming bill that would see online casinos introduced in 2027. 

Critics of the online casino bill are concerned that online gambling will cannibalize the retail casino market. But proponents of the bill point to the existing use of black-market online casinos. 

Virginia Retail Casinos

Virginia currently has five physical casinos. The three permanent casinos are Hard Rock Bristol, Rivers Casino Portsmouth, and Caesars Virginia

The state also has two casinos currently in temporary locations. The Norfolk Casino Interim Gaming Hall opened in Norfolk in November after years of legal and regulatory challenges. 

Even more recently, the Live! Casino Virginia opened on January 22. Live! posted $4.7m of revenue within its first 10 days of opening, thanks to its progressive jackpots currently offering up to $75,000 in prizes. 

With the inclusion of the two temporary venues, the state’s casino gambling revenue reached $81m in January, with $14.6m of taxes paid to the Gaming Proceeds Fund. 

Despite the new Live! Casino venue’s January opening, revenue figures were down more than 6% from December’s $86.5m but up more than 12% from January 2025’s $72.34m. 

Caesars generated the most revenue ($30.5m) with Hard Rock Hotel and Rivers Casino posting $19.54m and $18.47m in revenue, respectively. 

The Interim Gaming Hall generated $1.05m, although the temporary casino does not offer table games and currently only houses just over 130 slots. 

Both temporary venues are expected to move into their permanent homes in 2027. 

While You Are Here, Why Not Check Out Our: Online Casino Games & Free Slots?

Other Virginia Gambling Regulations Progress

Virginia has progressed with a bill to allow a new casino to be built in Fairfax County.

The bill, which previously restricted the potential location of a new casino to Tysons, was amended to allow the venue to be built anywhere in the county. 

This helped ensure the legislation passed a Senate vote, after two previous failures. 

The move is seen as part of the state’s broader effort to expand its regulated gambling market and compete with neighboring states that already host some of the best online casinos.

The proposal will now be debated in the House of Delegates. If it passes the House vote, residents will get the final say in a future ballot.

Another bill that passed through the state’s Senate, SB 118, has brought regulated online casinos one step closer.

Lawmakers backing the measure argue that a controlled framework would give players access to safe, state-approved platforms offering popular games such as online slots, table games and live dealer titles.

Despite initially being rejected by a 19-20 vote, the Senate brought the bill back for reconsideration before narrowly passing it with a vote of 19-17.

Under the proposals, existing retail casino operators would be able to apply for up to three online casino licenses each, potentially paving the way for major brands in the best online casinos market to enter Virginia.

Licensees would be taxed 20% of adjusted iGaming revenue, with an additional 6% being handed to the Casino Gaming Hold Harmless Fund.

The bill would need to pass two successive legislative sessions, which means new iGaming casinos - including platforms featuring a wide range of online slots - would likely not come online until 2028 at the earliest.