Rivers Casino Portsmouth First Virginia Gaming Property to Unionize
Posted on: November 3, 2025, 09:39h.
Last updated on: November 3, 2025, 10:06h.
- Rivers Casino Portsmouth employees have unionized with the Teamsters
- The union says the historic contract guarantees pay increases and benefits
Rivers Casino Portsmouth in Virginia’s Hampton Roads is making history once again in the commonwealth.
Rivers was the first permanent casino to open in the history of Virginia when the $340 million facility turned on its more than 1,400 slot machines in January 2023. Last Friday, the casino owned and operated by Chicago-based Rush Street Gaming notched another first by becoming the first unionized casino in Virginia.
This is history in the making,” said James Wright, president of Teamsters Local 822. “For the first time, Virginia gaming workers have a legally binding union contract that delivers guaranteed raises, strong benefits, and just cause protections. This agreement proves that when workers stand together, they can transform their industry.”
The Local 822 Teamsters chapter said workers at the Portsmouth casino backed unionizing with 95% support. The Norfolk-based union, which primarily represents freight and manufacturing employees in the region, says the Rivers Casino contract sets a precedent for fairness, wages, and workplace protections in Virginia’s rapidly emerging gaming industry.
Guaranteed Pay Increases
Local 822 represents workers at UPS, UPS Freight, ABF Freight, and Pepsi. Rivers has now been added to the list.
The union says Rivers employees will earn raises of 15.95% over the life of the contract. Teamsters didn’t immediately respond to Casino.org’s request for clarification about the length of the Rivers Casino Portsmouth contract.
Benefits such as employer-paid health care, at-will employment protections, and additional paid time off were also included. The now-unionized casino workers will also receive one-time $500 ratification bonuses for full-time and $250 for part-time employees.
“This contract means stability for me and my family. I know my job is protected, my health care is covered, and my wages and tips together give me the security to plan for the future,” said Natasha O’Guinn, a Rivers Portsmouth slot attendant. “We finally have a voice and a fair contract that respects what we do every day.”
Rivers Casino Portsmouth is not the first Rush casino to unionize.
The Hotel and Gaming Trades Council, an ALF-CIO member, has represented casino workers at Rivers Casino & Resort Schenectady in Upstate New York for several years. Workers at Rivers Casino Pittsburgh have also been represented by unions, including the International Union of Operating Engineers and Steel City Casino Workers Council Organizing Committee.
Rivers Portsmouth Flowing
Rivers Portsmouth has been a roaring success for Rush. The casino’s 1,400 slots, nearly 60 live-dealer table games, and BetRivers Sportsbook reported gross gaming revenue (GGR) $250 million in its first year. Casino win grew to $309 million in 2024 and has further grown in 2025.
The casino will soon face nearby competition in Norfolk, where Boyd Gaming will open a temporary casino in the coming days. Boyd is leading a $750 million casino resort adjacent to Norfolk’s Harbor Park Minor League Baseball stadium that’s set to open in 2027. The casino will include 1,500 slots, 50 tables, and a sportsbook.
To remain competitive, Rush is investing $65 million to build an on-site 106-room hotel called The Landing. The Landing is slated to welcome its first overnight guests in early 2027.
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