Live! Casino & Hotel to Launch Virginia Temporary Casino in January

The opening of Live! Casino & Hotel’s temporary casino in Petersburg now has an official date. According to new reports, the temporary venue will go live in January, marking a slight delay. In the meantime, the Cordish Companies continues to work hard on the permanent facility.

The Temporary Casino’s Launch Will Be Postponed

The Cordish Companies had originally planned to open the temporary facility by the end of the year. However, various circumstances have forced the casino and hospitality company and its development partner, Bruce Smith Enterprise, to postpone the launch. According to the latest announcement, the temporary casino will launch on January 22, 2026.

The temporary casino will be a 75,000-square-foot air-conditioned pavilion tent, boasting some 900 slots and 33 live dealer table games. Its goal will be to allow players to enjoy what the Live! Casino & Hotel brand has to offer ahead of the launch of the company’s permanent venue. The temporary casino will be located right next to the construction site of the upcoming resort, near Interstate 95 at Wagner Road.

For context, the permanent Live! Casino & Hotel Petersburg is expected to be completed in 2027. Unlike its temporary counterpart, the permanent property will boast a staggering 1,600 slots, 60 gaming tables, and a sportsbook. In addition to that, the permanent property will feature many other amenities, such as 8 dining and beverage options, a pool complex, a fitness center, a convention space, and a 4,000-seat theater.

Depending on the property’s success, The Cordish Companies could consider further expansions. These could include residences, an office area, additional shops and stores, and a park.

Bringing the Live! Experience to Virginia

The Cordish Companies and NFL Hall of Famer Bruce Smith secured approval to operate gaming in Virginia in 2024 after Petersburg voters greenlit the new casino resort. This followed two failed attempts to get a resort approved in Richmond. Virginia will thus become the fourth state in which the Cordish Companies operates a casino. For reference, the company has casinos in Louisiana, Maryland, and Pennsylvania.

Rob Norton, the president of Cordish Gaming, said that he was thrilled that the Virginia casino is finally becoming a reality. As the region’s first full-scale casino, he hopes to make it truly memorable, underpinned by the flagship Live! experience.

Although this will be the first full-scale casino in the area, Cordish already has a presence in the Old Dominion via its role in the development of the Norfolk Waterside District.