- Rivers Casino Portsmouth opened its door to the public last Monday, January 23, 2023.
- The casino features 1,446 slot machines, 57 table games, 24 poker tables housed under an exclusive poker room, and a BetRivers Sportsbook.
- Other amenities include the TopGolf Lounge, The Sound Bar, The Events Center, and several food and beverage options.
Virginia’s first full-service permanent casino is up and running.
Rivers Casino Portsmouth opened its doors to the public last Monday after a grand opening ceremony held at its Hampton Roads site.
Mini vlog of @nsuspartanlegion preparing to perform at the Grand Opening of Rivers Casino in Portsmouth, VA yesterday! 💙🤩 You know they did their thing!!!#hbcubands #hamptonroads #riverscasino #757business pic.twitter.com/rByfFpoZQJ
— Agape Travel & Tours (@agapetours) January 24, 2023
The casino held a ceremonial ribbon-cutting event attended by casino officials, representatives from Rush Street Gaming, and officials from the city of Portsmouth. Monday’s event also included a performance by Norfolk State University’s “Spartan Legion” marching band. Meanwhile, Rivers Casino Portsmouth casino general manager Roy Corby, Portsmouth Mayor Shannon Glover, Rush Street Gaming CEO Tim Drehkoff, and other personalities gave short speeches.
Per CEO Drekhoff:
At the ceremony, Rivers Casino Portsmouth was also presented with its official casino license by Gina Smith, deputy director for Gaming Compliance from the Virginia Lottery. The casino also announced donations to three local charities from proceeds of the casino’s two soft opening dates last January 19 and 21, with Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters, USO Hampton Roads, and West Virginia, and Wesley Community Service Center each receiving $170,000.
At 10:00 am, the casino welcomed its first guests.
Rivers Casino Portsmouth
The 250,000-square-foot casino was built at a cost of $340 million. It was constructed on a 57-acre lot South of Interstate 264, between McClean and Victory Boulevard which the casino acquired for $10 million from the City of Portsmouth. Construction on the site began in December 2021 and just over a year later, it is now open.
The casino features 1,446 slot machines, 57 table games, and 24 poker tables housed under an exclusive poker room. The casino has a BetRivers Sportsbook which has the largest HD TV sets in Hampton Roads, several betting windows, and 27 self-service betting kiosks strategically scattered across the property.
It also has a high-limit room with 85 slot machines and 11 table games, as well as two salons and a private table area for high-limit gamblers. Just off the gaming floor is a Topgolf Swing Suites which overlooks the sportsbook. It has three bays with each one having a capacity of 8 guests.
Other Amenities of the Casino
Near the casino entrance and just after the security is the Sound Bar, an intimate stage and lounge area that will host local bands, DJs, and more. The Sound Bar can accommodate up to 120 guests and will offer live entertainment on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Last Tuesday, regional favorites Seamless Band and Better by Tuesday played for the opening-day crowd.
The casino also has The Events Center, a 25,000 square foot multi-purpose hall and reception area which accepts reservations for weddings, corporate events, meetings, and more. Last January 16th, The Events Center had its first booking with the Epsilon Nu Lamba Chapter of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. held its 18th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Luncheon at the venue.
The casino also features several food and beverage options. New restaurants include Admiral’s Steak and Seafood for high-end dining, and casual fare at Crossings Cafe which is outside the casino floor and can be accessed by guests below the age of 21. Other food options are Mian Asian Cuisine Slice Pizzeria, and Starbucks while Yard House, which will have draft beer options, is set to open later this year.
