Live! Casino Virginia To Open Temporary Petersburg Facility In January 2026
The wait for Petersburg to join Virginia’s growing casino industry is finally coming to an end.
A temporary Live! Casino Virginia is expected to open in January 2026, serving as a forerunner to the $1.4billion Live! Casino & Hotel Resort scheduled for completion in 2027.
Built by The Cordish Companies in collaboration with Virginia Beach’s Bruce Smith Enterprise, the interim venue will offer 75,000 square feet of gaming space.
Guests can expect around 900 slot machines, 33 live-action table games, a bar and a quick-service restaurant, all located near Wagner Road and Brasfield Parkway, just off Interstate 95.
The project, currently in the midst of Virginia’s regulatory process, will create 500 jobs once the temporary casino opens.
The hiring process has already begun, with developers reviewing applications and conducting interviews.
Construction Timeline And Permanent Resort Details
The original schedule targeted a late 2025 opening, but the date has been pushed slightly into early 2026 as developers await final state approvals.
Despite the delay, Cordish officials say the project remains firmly on track.
Construction began in March 2025 on the permanent Live! Casino & Hotel Virginia, located on a 100-acre site.
Once complete, the resort will feature more than 450,000 square feet of gaming, lodging, dining and entertainment space.
Plans include a 200-room hotel with 20 suites, a swimming pool, fitness center and 75,000 square feet of meeting and convention facilities.
The full resort is expected to generate 1,400 full-time jobs for the Petersburg region.
Veteran casino executive Penny Parayo will oversee both the temporary and permanent locations as Senior Vice President and General Manager. Parayo brings more than a decade of experience leading property operations and slot management at Live! Casino & Hotel Maryland.
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Petersburg Joins Virginia’s Expanding Casino Market
When the new facility opens, Live! Casino Virginia will join a growing roster of gaming venues across the state.
Virginia currently has three operating casinos - Rivers Casino Portsmouth, Hard Rock Bristol and Caesars Virginia in Danville - with a fourth, the Norfolk Casino (a joint venture between the Pamunkey Indian Tribe and Boyd Gaming), still in development.
The addition of Petersburg follows a 2023 legislative vote allowing the city to host a casino after two previous proposals in Richmond were rejected by voters.
Virginia’s gaming law limits casinos to five cities: Bristol, Danville, Norfolk, Portsmouth and now Petersburg.
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Economic Impact And Community Revitalization
Anticipation is building for the temporary casino’s opening, which represents another milestone in Virginia’s rapidly expanding gaming industry and a key boost for Petersburg’s revitalization efforts.
The development is expected to attract regional tourism, generate new tax revenue and stimulate business growth for nearby restaurants, hotels and retail spaces.
City leaders view the casino as the centerpiece of a long-term economic development strategy aimed at bringing sustainable jobs and tourism to one of Virginia’s most economically challenged communities.
Beyond the immediate financial benefits, the introduction of the Live! brand is expected to help reposition Petersburg as a dynamic entertainment destination, blending gaming, hospitality and community-focused growth.
