Petersburg Temporary Casino Opening in January Ahead of Full Resort in 2027

^{Bruce Smith Enterprise and The Cordish Companies break ground on the temporary Live! Casino Virginia site in Petersburg, marking the first phase of the city’s $1.4 billion casino resort planned for 2027. (Photo: courtesy ofThe Cordish Companies)}

Cordish Gaming Group announced Monday that it would be opening temporary casino in Petersburg, Virginia on Jan. 22, 2026, marking a major milestone in the contentious process of bringing a gambling facility to the city.

The venue, known as Live! Casino Virginia, will make Petersburg the fourth city in the state to host a casino.

Cordish Cheers Opening of ‘Full-Scale Casino’

The temporary facility will feature a 75,000 square-foot casino. Visitors will be able to enjoy 900 slot machines and 33 table games, along with a bar and restaurant as dining options. The opening is contingent on getting final regulatory approvals from the Virginia Lottery Department. 

“After years of planning, we’re thrilled to see this vision become reality,” Cordish Gaming Group President Rob Norton said in a statement. “When Live! Casino Virginia opens its doors, central Virginia will experience something truly exceptional – the region’s first full-scale casino featuring the electrifying energy of Vegas-style slots, live-action table games, and the signature excitement only Live! can deliver.”

Ultimately, Cordish and its partner, Bruce Smith Enterprise, are planning to build a $1.4 billion resort in Petersburg. Scheduled for completion in 2027, the complex will include a 200-room hotel, a 3,000-seat entertainment venue, and up to 10 restaurants in what is planned to be a major tourist attraction.

“The impact Live! Casino Virginia is having on Petersburg is significant,” Petersburg Mayor Sam Parham said in a statement. “The temporary casino, and eventually the permanent destination resort, are going to transform the region, while shaping the future of our city for generations to come.”

Petersburg Gets Casino After Controversial Process

The coming casino is the culmination of a multi-year effort that wasn’t without controversy. 

After Richmond voters rejected a plan to host a casino in 2021, Petersburg saw an opportunity to take its place as a potential host city. After a couple of stalled attempts to get the Virginia General Assembly to sign off on the idea – and a second rejection from the voters of Richmond – Petersburg was finally cleared to have its own referendum in November 2024.

But even before that vote, the choice of a developer led to back-and-forth accusations between city officials and state legislators. 

In April 2024, the Petersburg City Council chose Cordish as its developer from a list of five finalists, with the decision coming during a closed meeting with no published agenda that suggested a vote on the casino was coming. Legislators were stunned that the city chose Cordish after the city manager had signed off on a letter saying they intended to partner with Bally’s, after which Petersburg officials said that the letter only existed because of pressure put on them by legislators who said it was necessary to pass the bill that allowed the city to have its casino referendum.

But despite the political wrangling, there was no real drama on election night. In November 2024, Petersburg voters overwhelmingly approved the casino plan, with 81.5% of voters supporting a referendum to permit casino gaming in the city.