Construction begins on Rivers Casino Portsmouth

$300M casino expected to open early 2023

Published December 10, 2021 by Robyn Sidersky

Chicago-based developer and gaming operator Rush Street Gaming broke ground Tuesday on Rivers Casino Portsmouth, kicking off construction of the $300 million casino and entertainment complex.

Located off Victory Boulevard, the complex will have a casino, BetRivers sportsbook, restaurants, a live entertainment lounge, hotel and event center. It is scheduled to open in early 2023.

“This is truly an exciting time for the citizens of Portsmouth — particularly as it relates to job growth and the overall economic vitality of our great city,” Portsmouth Mayor Shannon Glover said in a statement. “We are pleased to also create new business opportunities and introduce an entirely new industry to Portsmouth.  We remain confident that this project will enhance the vibrancy of our community.”

Portsmouth’s casino will be the seventh for Rush Street Gaming and its first in Virginia. Others are in Illinois, Pennsylvania and New York  The company has promised 1,300 new permanent jobs and 1,400 construction jobs. The casino — one of four statewide approved by voters in 2020 — is expected to generate $16.3 million in annual tax revenue for the city.

Virginia Beach-based S.B. Ballard Construction Co. and Philadelphia-based Yates Construction will be the general contractors, while North Carolina-based Kimley-Horn will do engineering consulting, Las Vegas-based Klai Juba Wald Architecture + Interiors is the architect of record, New York-based Jeffrey Beers International has been hired for the primary interior design, and Evanston, Illinois-based DMAC Architecture will do interior design of the venues.

In early November, Rush Street Gaming hired Roy Corby as the general manager for the casino.

About two-thirds of Portsmouth voters approved the casino in a referendum vote in November 2020, along with voters in Bristol, Danville and Norfolk. Construction also started recently in Bristol on a temporary casino location.

Subscribe to Virginia Business. Get our daily e-newsletter.