Petersburg city officials and casino developers gather to break ground on the $1.4 billion project. (Photo by Jackie DiBartolomeo)
On a sunny Wednesday morning, officials from Petersburg and associated developers officially commenced construction on a casino resort valued at $1.4 billion.
The multifaceted project will cover 92 acres located near the intersection of Wagner Road and Interstate 95, and is being developed by Cordish Cos. from Baltimore and Bruce Smith Enterprise from Virginia Beach.
City officials, alongside developers, state representatives, and local partners, marked the construction kickoff by breaking ground with shovels into a mound of dirt decorated with red dice and poker chips.
Ed Evans from Cordish Gaming Group led the ceremony, which featured speeches by Petersburg Mayor Samuel Parham, Rob Norton, president of Cordish Gaming, and Bruce Smith of Bruce Smith Enterprise.
The casino resort is expected to offer over 450,000 square feet dedicated to gaming, accommodation, and dining, along with more than 75,000 square feet for meetings and conventions.
Future plans for the resort include a 200-room hotel with 20 suites, a resort-style pool and fitness center, 1,600 slot machines, various table game areas including a 22-table poker room, and an entertainment venue with a 4,000-seat capacity.
The development is projected to generate $2.8 billion in economic benefits for the region and create over 6,100 construction jobs along with 1,400 permanent jobs in the first decade of operation, with priority for local hiring. Additionally, an estimated $240 million in tax revenue will be directed to the City of Petersburg over the same period.
The project will also include a temporary 75,000-square-foot casino facility, set to open by the end of 2025, which will create approximately 500 jobs and feature about 900 slot machines and 33 table games.
Richard Bland College will partner with Cordish and Bruce Smith Enterprise to implement a casino dealing training program starting this summer, equipping students with skills for high-paying jobs in the community.
Last November, around 80% of Petersburg residents supported a referendum allowing the casino, marking it as the strongest backing for a casino project in Virginia’s history. Initially, Petersburg was not the chosen site for a casino; however, legislative changes in April enabled it to host one, subsequently selecting Cordish as the developer. With excitement for Petersburg’s future, Bruce Smith stated, “No longer will people drive past Petersburg; instead, they will plan visits to Petersburg.”
