Caesars Virginia casino on track for late 2024 opening, gaming offerings to expand

The Caesars Virginia casino project remains on schedule to open in the fourth quarter of this year, according to a statement from a Virginia Lottery official.

Ray Dunkle, director of gaming operations for the Virginia Lottery, provided an update during a Virginia Lottery Board meeting in Richmond last week.

“The permanent casino, the construction there is moving great,” Dunkle informed the board, as reported by Danville Register & Bee.

He noted the significant progress made on the project: “If we would go and stand in that same place right now, it would be a different look for sure." 

"They’re looking to open in the fourth quarter,” Dunkle was quoted as saying in the report.



In addition to the development of the permanent casino, the temporary Danville Casino is set to expand its gaming offerings. Dunkle revealed that the Virginia Lottery has approved 50 new games and 16 scheduled projects, which include 224 games and eight tables, for the temporary facility.

Caesars’ temporary gaming venue, housed in a tent-like structure, currently features 826 slot machines and 36 table games, according to data provided by the Virginia Lottery.

The fiscal year 2024 saw Virginia’s three casinos—Danville Casino, HR Bristol, and Rivers Casino Portsmouth—generate approximately $673.9 million in adjusted revenue, a significant increase from the $255.5 million reported in 2023.

Deborah Courtney, director of finance for the Virginia Lottery, shared these figures, noting the respective opening dates of each casino: Danville Casino in May 2023, HR Bristol in July 2022, and Rivers Casino Portsmouth in January 2023. The Virginia Lottery maintains oversight of the casino developments across the state.

Courtney also reported that total tax revenue collected from the three casinos amounted to $123.76 million in 2024, up from nearly $46 million in 2023, as per the report.

The full Caesars Virginia casino is under construction at the former Schoolfield Mill site, once part of Dan River Inc.'s textile operations in Danville. The project represents a $750 million investment, an increase from the original $400 million outlined in the 2020 agreement with the city.

However, the employment target has been adjusted from the initially promised 1,300 jobs to a range of 900 to 1,300, following a revised agreement approved by the Danville City Council on May 7, the report said.