PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) — Rivers Casino Portsmouth has released the proposed interior renderings for the new gaming and entertainment complex planned off Victory Boulevard.
The $300 million-plus project will feature a 50,000 square foot casino with 1,890 gaming “positions,” a sportsbook, restaurants, a live entertainment lounge and more than 62,000 square feet of indoor-outdoor event space that can host concerts, weddings and meetings.
The facility is also proposed to have a 250-room hotel and sit south of Interstate 264 at Victory Boulevard.
The newly released renderings highlight the facility’s promenade, state-of-the-art gaming floor, multiple bar areas flanked with large LED screens, a live music lounge, dining areas with canopy trellis-covered seating, and other amenities.
“Our goal is to exceed the expectation of Portsmouth residents who voted overwhelmingly for the project,” said Delceno Miles, spokesperson for Rivers Casino Portsmouth. “Rivers Casino Portsmouth looks forward not only to being the first destination casino to open in Virginia — but also the best.”
On Tuesday night, Chicago based developers — Rush Street Gaming — received initial approval from Portsmouth City Council for their permits to operate.
A final vote must still be taken on June 8. It is expected Vice Mayor De’Andre Barnes and Councilman Mark Whitaker will again vote against the deal as they did Monday.
Barnes has taken issue with language in the deal that doesn’t force Rush Street Gaming to start building the hotel component of their project immediately because voters in Norfolk approved a casino and hotel of their own — a different project than the one proposed by Rush Street Gaming.
The Portsmouth Economic Development Authority has now authorized Rivers to begin work on the project during the operator application process with the Virginia Lottery to ensure the project’s timeline remains on track.
Officials say they are prepared to begin site work pending Portsmouth City Council’s approval of the use permit.
Once operational, the casino is expected to generate about $1.3 million per month in new tax revenue for Portsmouth; plus 1,300 new permanent jobs and 1,400 temporary construction jobs.
