The Virginia Lottery Board has approved a new casino in Petersburg, making it the fifth licensed casino in the state.
Live! Casino Virginia, operated by PPE Casino Resorts Petersburg LLC, will open a temporary 75,000-square-foot facility on Jan. 22. The casino is located near I-95 and Wagner Road at exit 48B.
A permanent casino, spanning more than 450,000 square feet and including hotel, dining, a convention center, and concert venue, is under construction. The project is expected to create 1,400 permanent jobs and generate over $200 million annually.
Rob Norton, President of Cordish Gaming Group, said the casino extended more than 600 job offers, surpassing its original staffing goal of 500. More than 100 of the hires were graduates of the company’s Dealer Institute, which trains table dealers at Richard Bland College.
The casino’s opening will also benefit the city financially. Petersburg is expected to receive $15 million from the casino in 2026 alone, in addition to any tax revenue generated. “Over our first ten years, when you combine both the temporary and the permanent, I think our estimate is about $240 million of value to the city of Petersburg,” Norton said.
Local businesses are also set to benefit. More than a dozen partners will offer players rewards vouchers redeemable at nearby coffee shops, breweries, and stores, including Resist Booksellers, Cindy’s Gift Shop, Escape Olde Towne, Ashton Creek Vineyard, and Cool Beanz Cafe.
Cheryl Brown, Vice President of Marketing, said: “We want to be able to also tie in the community, to have patrons get to know the region. No better way to do that than to have a partnership with the businesses in Petersburg and in the growing region.”
According to a Virginia Lottery release, the board unanimously approved the PPE Casino Resorts Petersburg, LLC application for licensure on Wednesday, Jan. 14. The approval followed a thorough review of the organization’s application and what the Lottery described as “an extensive background investigation.”
Norton noted that the license is conditional, pending a test run and audit scheduled for next week.
Construction on the permanent casino and resort, located near the intersection of Interstate 95 and Wagner Road, is still underway, with completion expected toward the end of 2027.
The $1.4 billion venture is a joint project between The Cordish Companies and Bruce Smith Enterprise. Virginia Lottery regulates casinos and sports betting under 2020 legislation.
The Petersburg casino joins approved locations in Bristol, Danville, Norfolk, and Portsmouth. Richmond residents twice rejected a casino referendum.
Original article: https://www.yogonet.com/international/news/2026/01/16/117178-virginia-lottery-approves-petersburg-casino-temporary-facility-opens-jan-22
