Virginia: Boyd Gaming takes over Norfolk casino project with $500 million investment plan  

City leaders and developers are optimistic about the long-awaited resort casino on Norfolk’s waterfront, with Boyd Gaming now at the helm of the project. After frustrations mounted over delays, the Norfolk City Council voted last week to replace Tennessee billionaire Jon Yarbrough with Boyd Gaming as the primary financial backer for the Pamunkey Indian Tribe’s casino.

City officials, including council members Tommy Smigiel and Andria McClellan, described the move as a “rescue” effort, signaling renewed momentum for the project. The $500 million resort casino, which had faced delays, is expected to rise along the Elizabeth River, with plans to break ground early next year and complete construction by 2027.

The casino license must be secured by November 2025 per state law, or Norfolk risks losing the right to host casino gambling. Despite the earlier hurdles, Norfolk Mayor Kenny Alexander remains confident: "We just had to ensure we had the right partner with the wherewithal like Boyd."

Under Boyd Gaming’s leadership, the project aims to exceed the original plans laid out by Golden Eagle Consulting, the firm previously led by Yarbrough. The new vision for the casino includes a significant capital investment of more than $500 million, surpassing the state-required minimum of $300 million.

The expanded design will feature a 200-room hotel, 1,500 slot machines, 50 table games, eight dining and bar establishments, a showroom, and luxury amenities like a pool, spa, and meeting spaces. This positions the Norfolk casino as a direct competitor to Rivers Casino Portsmouth, located just seven miles away.

Uri Clinton, Boyd Gaming’s executive vice president, expressed confidence in the project: “It is going to be an unparalleled experience in this market and we think in short order will become the market leader.”

One significant change in the development agreement involves the amount of land available for the project. Initially, the casino was set to occupy 13 acres, but the need to construct a seawall along the Elizabeth River has reduced the plot to just over eight acres. 

Free parking for Amtrak passengers will be maintained as part of the agreement. The resort’s 1,300-space parking garage will allocate 103 spots for Amtrak customers, with parking validation required. During construction, the developers will provide shuttle services to accommodate passengers.

In keeping with Virginia’s casino gambling laws, the Norfolk casino will allow indoor smoking in designated areas, a practice that drew criticism at Rivers Casino Portsmouth.

Boyd Gaming plans to address concerns about secondhand smoke by installing state-of-the-art ventilation systems to create an environment that accommodates both smokers and nonsmokers. However, there are no current plans to introduce fully smoke-free gaming areas.

Discussions are ongoing about how to compensate for the loss of more than 800 parking spots at Harbor Park, with some council members advocating for the use of the Tide light rail system to ease congestion.