Rivers Casino Portsmouth, the first permanent casino in Virginia, is set to open January 15, 2023, and General Manager Roy Corby recently led reporters on a tour of the property.
“Being the first in the state really sets a tone for what a host community should expect from a casino partner,” he said. “Working with the state of Virginia and the Virginia Lottery Board to get these things accomplished has been a fantastic voyage. I come through this site every day. Every day it’s amazing how much further we get. It’s surreal that we’re finally going to get into the mode of, ‘Okay, let’s actually operate a casino.’”
Corby said just metal detectors will be installed at the entrance. “We have a state-of-the-art surveillance system, security patrols throughout the parking lot and over 1,000 surveillance cameras. Plus, the city of Portsmouth asked us to put some cameras on top of the building for them. It gives them a great view of what’s going on down Victory Boulevard and Missy Elliot Boulevard,” Corby said.
Past security near the entrance will be the 120-person Sound Bar, featuring live music on weekends. Beyond that will be the 24-table poker room. Corby said the room “will have their own cage, so they don’t have to go out onto the floor to check out, and a host podium check-in.”
The casino also will offer a Top Golf Swing Suite with three 8-person bays. It will overlook the casino’s sportsbook featuring a 750-foot monitor showing 30 games simultaneously. The sportsbook also will include 27 self-serve kiosks and a bar.
The gaming floor will offer 1,448 slot machines and 57 table games.
Food and drink options will include Mian Asian Cuisine, Slice Pizzeria and Starbucks. Outside the casino floor, visitors will find the 120-seat Crossings Cafe and the 250-seat Admirals Steak and Seafood, whose executive chef is a native of Portsmouth.
A hotel is planned in the future, but no timeline has been announced.
The first casino to open in Virginia was a temporary casino in Bristol prepping for the permanent casino to open in 2024.
