Virginia’s First Stand-Alone Casino Opens in Portsmouth
After several years under construction, first stand-alone casino in Virginia, Rivers Casino Portsmouth by Chicago-based Rush Street Gaming, will officially open on Monday at 10 AM at Portsmouth.
Humanitarian action before the opening:
Just before Monday’s opening, the casino hosted a charity event on Thursday night.
In this regard, LaTreece Arthur, a permanent 757 resident, said: “I am so excited to be here. I’m like a kid in the candy store.
“I couldn’t sleep last night.”
Besides Arthur, many people were thrilled as Rivers Casino officially opened its doors to the public on Thursday night.
Safety as the first priority:
At the entrance to the casino, guests saw metal detection systems and other security measures.
Commenting on the upgraded security system, casino owners said: “Safety is a major priority.”
Roy Corby, general manager of Rivers Casino, added: “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.”
Also, guests who win big will be offered a casino bodyguards escort to their vehicles after they decide to leave.
Various bar options:
The casino has a Sound Bar, located near the entrance and next to security.
Commenting on the bar, Mr. Corby said: “It will feature live music every weekend and can fit over 120 guests.”
In addition to the bar, the guests will have the option to go for a drink in the BetRivers Sportsbook.
In this regard, Mr. Corby added: “This bar will be probably the busiest bar on the property.”
BetRivers Sportsbook offers a 750-foot monitor that can display 30 games at the same time including 27 kiosks where customers can place their bets.
In addition to the Sportsbook, the casino has a Top Golf Swing Suite that has 3 sections that can accommodate almost 8 people individually.
Different gambling options:
As for gambling options, Rivers Casino is equipped with plenty of them, one which is located inside the complex poker room, which houses 24 individual tables with experienced dealers.
According to Mr. Corby, the poker room “has its own cage, so players don’t have to go out onto the floor to check out, and a host podium check-in.”
The main floor of the casino offers 1,448 slot machines and 57 tables for a variety of games such as craps, roulette and blackjack.
In addition to the aforementioned gambling options, there is a high-stakes gambling area located near the back of the establishment.
Various food and beverage options:
When it comes to food and beverage options, Rivers Casino is also equipped with few, located next to security, such as Milan Asian Cuisine, Slice Pizzeria and Starbucks.
In addition to the casino floor, customers can find Crossings Cafe and Admirals Steak and Seafood which are available to customers under the age of 21.
The Crossings Cafe offers breakfast and dinners and can accommodate a total of 120 people, while the Admirals can accommodate 250 and has two private rooms, staffed by a Portsmouth native as head chef.
In this regard, Mr. Corby said: “To see all of these amenities and activities finally come together is a surreal feeling that makes me excited for the future. But being the area’s first casino I recognize the precedent my facility will set for the entire state.
“Being the first in the state really sets a tone for what a host community should expect from a casino partner. Working with the state of Virginia and the Virginia Lottery Board to get these things accomplished has been a fantastic voyage…it’s surreal that we’re finally going to get into the mode of, ok let’s actually operate a casino.”
Casino value for the city:
The value of the casino is $340 million.
In this regard, Portsmouth Mayor Shannon Glover said: “The city is expecting to make $16.3 million in tax revenue from the casino during its first four years.
“45% of our land is owned by the federal government. So we don’t get any tax revenue from that land. Those new tax revenue dollars are going to go to things that are critically important to our city…our schools, our police and fire, our infrastructure.
“We also plan to put a hotel and develop the area surrounding the casino, which means the city has many more cards up its sleeve.
“Yard House, the restaurant in Virginia Beach, will have a restaurant in the casino to be opened in September. This casino is going to bring new visitors to the city of Portsmouth. They’re going to see a new Portsmouth and see that we’re heading in a bold, new direction.”
