Hard Rock International is making strides in Virginia as the gaming conglomerate celebrates a successful first two weeks of legal retail sportsbook operations.
Hard Rock’s Legal Sportsbook Launch
The Bristol casino opened its doors on Monday, January 11th, after hosting a ribbon-cutting ceremony that morning.
In addition to the location’s sportsbook kiosk, Hard Rock Bristol offers gamblers 30,000 square feet of gaming space with 21 tables and 870 slot machines.
Bristol’s latest addition is tiny compared to Hard Rock’s other investments. Even still, Virginia sports betting fans are elated at the opportunity to try their hand at other forms of gambling.
Hard Rock’s new location is only temporary. Construction for Hard Rock’s permanent resort is ongoing, with a debut expected sometime in 2024.
Permanent Location In View
With triple the space and activities of the company’s current strip mall stomping grounds, in-state gamblers have a lot to look forward to.
Jim McGlothlin, chairman of The United Co., and Par Ventures LLC President Clyde Stacy both played integral roles in the development of Hard Rock International’s latest project. In a joint statement, the two expressed pride in the work that they had done. They say,
“‘Bristol Casino – Future Home of Hard Rock’ is something of which Bristolians can be very proud. We are glad that the project is having an immediate impact in boosting Bristol’s economy, by bringing at least 600 new, good-paying jobs to the city. This is only a start, as the project will generate even more jobs when the permanent casino opens.”
Local bettors have been using legal mobile sports betting apps to place wagers for well over a year. Still, the state’s gambling infrastructure is incredibly young and has a long way to go.
Unlike other legal sports betting states that prioritized the launch of brick-and-mortar books, Virginia’s lack of in-person casinos put major delays on a retail debut.
Nonetheless, it seems the state is finally catching up.
More Sportsbook Arrivals To Come
Virginia bettors can expect the arrival of three additional casinos over the next two years. Rivers Casino Portsmouth is expected to be the first of the state’s permanent openings with plans to launch at the start of 2023.
Danville will be the next Virginia city to open a local casino as Caesars Entertainment aims to complete its project before the end of 2023.
The last of these locations to open will be the Pamunkey Indian Tribe’s HeadWaters Resort & Casino in Norfolk. With a permanent opening expected sometime in 2024, HeadWaters is certainly late to the party.
However, we don’t expect this to be the last expansion of Virginia’s state gambling laws. Being so new to the game, there’s significant room for growth.
For more updates on Virginia gambling, be sure to come back and visit us.
Source: Virginia Business
