The highly anticipated waterfront casino in Norfolk, Virginia, is finally moving forward.
Boyd Gaming and the Pamunkey Indian Tribe have officially announced that construction will kick off with a groundbreaking ceremony in the Mermaid City on Wednesday, Oct. 30.
Earlier this month, the Norfolk City Council and the city's planning commission gave the project its final approval by issuing a development certificate, clearing the way for construction to begin.
This development makes Norfolk the fourth city in Virginia to start building a casino after receiving voter approval. Brick-and-mortar casinos offer the only legal option for gaming enthusiasts in Virginia, as online casinos remain illegal in the state.
Groundbreaking Four Years in the Making
Norfolk’s casino referendum was approved by local voters in 2020, along with three other casinos in Virginia — all of which are now up and running in Portsmouth, Danville and Bristol.
Since then, the plans for the Norfolk casino have been changed (and ultimately delayed) several times, with at least three different design ideas for both permanent and temporary casinos. The changes included adding a new developer to the mix.
Five years ago, Tennessee billionaire Jon Yarbrough promised to build a resort with a 10-story glass hotel tower, casino, marina and restaurants. After four years of trying, and failing, to get permission from the city, he is no longer the development partner with the Pamunkey Indian Tribe. Boyd Gaming is.
Once Boyd Gaming got involved, the project next to Harbor Park started to move forward quickly.
Plan Includes Opening Temporary Casino in Norfolk
Boyd Gaming, which is based in Nevada, owns and operates 28 gaming properties in 10 states. Its Norfolk casino plan includes 50 gaming tables and 1,500 slot machines. But that’s just the beginning.
The new Norfolk casino is set to become a major attraction, offering residents and visitors a new entertainment venue. It will be a complex offering a number of attractions and amenities, including:
- 200-room hotel with a pool deck
- Bars and Restaurants
- Showroom
- Spa
- Fitness Center
- Meeting Spaces
- Parking Garage
The new plan aims to meet the state's gaming license deadline in November 2025 by opening a temporary casino by mid-October 2025. Construction on the temporary casino will begin by the end of November 2024. A permanent casino is set to replace the temporary one in September 2027.
Cost estimates for both the temporary and permanent casinos have not yet been announced, but under state law, the permanent casino-resort must cost at least $300 million.
