Hard Rock's temporary Bristol Casino expands gaming offering, adds new "Party Pit" area

Hard Rock officials announced a new “Party Pit” and additional gaming opportunities have been added to the temporary Bristol Casino in Virginia. The recently completed expansion sees the introduction of nearly 30 new slot machines and eight new table games to the casino’s lineup.

“We are thrilled to offer new slots and table games for our guests,” said Allie Evangelista, president of Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Bristol. “With these additions, the casino now has 890 slots and 29 tables, along with our sportsbook. The new Dragon Link and Sega Sammy machines continue our commitment to add those machines that we know are most popular.”

As part of the expansion, Hard Rock’s Bristol casino unveiled its new “Party Pit” amenity. The space, sitting beside Bristol Bar and across from the Sportsbook, features four blackjack tables, all with $15 minimums, reports Bristol Herald Courier.

“The Party Pit’s convenient location will provide guests with a fun, energetic vibe, surrounded by live music and TVs featuring all the latest sports action,” Hard Rock said in a statement. The Party Pit will be open every Thursday through Sunday from 4 p.m. to 2 a.m.

Other additions include two new blackjack tables in the high-limit space, a blackjack table and Mississippi Stud table in the non-smoking area, eight new Dragon Link machines in the high-limit area, and 20 new slot machines from Sega Sammy in the casino’s gaming floor.

Hard Rock Bristol Casino's gaming floor

The Bristol Casino opened in July 2022, becoming Virginia’s first land-based casino property. The temporary venue is scheduled to operate until the full $400 million Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Bristol opens in summer 2024.

The permanent casino will include a 3,200-seat performance venue and a 20,000-person capacity outdoor entertainment venue. The casino will be open 24/7 and is expected to generate about 1,200 to 1,500 jobs. It will also include two hotel towers, a pool, and more.

Earlier this month, the Virginia Lottery reported the Bristol Casino generated almost $14 million in adjusted gross revenue for February, of which over $11 million was generated by slot machines and $2.5 million by table games. In less than eight months since opening, it has generated more than $109 million in adjusted gross revenue and $2.5 million in tax revenues.

The Hard Rock Casino, still located in a temporary location, saw its revenue dwarfed by that of the second casino to open in Virginia, the Rivers Casino in Portsmouth. The Rivers, which has 430 more slot machines and about three-and-a-half times as many table games, reported adjusted gross revenue of $24.7 million, including $7.5 million from table games.