Commercial Gaming

Virginia Casino Revenue Has Nowhere to Go but Up as Norfolk Resort Takes Shape

Posted on: August 20, 2026, 01:20h.

Last updated on: August 20, 2026, 01:20h.

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Devin O'Connor Devin O'Connor is a senior reporter for Casino.org, covering politics, casino business, and gaming news. Devin came on board with Casino.org in 2014...
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Key Points

Virginia casinos generated nearly $102.5 million in July 2026, up 21% year-over-year as the state's gaming market continues to expand
Boyd Gaming's $750 million Norfolk casino resort remains on schedule and on budget, with a late 2027 opening planned
A second permanent casino resort is also taking shape in Petersburg, where Cordish is investing $600 million in Live! Casino & Hotel Virginia

Virginia casino revenue is on pace for yet another record year, and the growth isn’t expected to slow anytime soon. Quite the contrary, in fact, as construction progresses on two additional casino resorts that are poised to further expand the state’s gaming market.

Virginia casino revenue Norfolk resort — An artist’s rendering of the under-construction casino resort in Norfolk. The Boyd Gaming development will further expand Virginia casino revenue and the commonwealth’s enlarging gaming industry. (Image: Boyd Gaming)

The Virginia Lottery, which regulates casinos and online sports betting in the commonwealth, reports that the five brick-and-mortar slot machine and table game venues generated gross gaming revenue (GGR) of nearly $102.5 million in July 2026. The July tally marked an 11% gain on June and a 21% year-over-year jump.

July 2026 benefited from having two additional casinos than did July 2025. The Interim Gaming Hall, a temporary modular casino in Norfolk, opened in November 2025, and Live! Virginia’s temporary casino commenced operations in January 2026.

Virginia is reaping the benefits of more casino gambling. The state’s tax benefit surged from $11.1 million in July 2025 to more than $13.5 million last month. The state tax is separate from the local gaming tax, with each host city receiving between 6% and 7% of the casino’s monthly GGR.

Norfolk Casino Construction

Boyd Gaming, the developer behind the $750 million to-be-named casino resort in Norfolk, reported this week that construction remains on schedule and on budget. Boyd is working with the Pamunkey Indian Tribe, Norfolk’s exclusive gaming partner since 2020.

Located adjacent to Norfolk’s Minor League Baseball Harbor Stadium along the Elizabeth River, Boyd is building a 200-room hotel and resort featuring a 45K-square-foot amenity deck and pool, eight restaurants and bars, 13K square feet of meeting space, and a 1,000-space parking garage, with dedicated spots for Amtrak customers.

As for the casino, the gaming floor is planned for 1,500 slot machines, 50 table games, and a sportsbook.

We are on schedule, we are on budget,” Ron Bailey, the property’s general manager, told WAVY. “This is a great, large, privately funded venture that’s going to really drive some economic development, not just for this property, but in the whole area and the whole community.”

Set to open in late 2027, the permanent Norfolk casino will greatly expand gaming in the city, as The Interim Gaming Hall currently houses only 132 slots.

Petersburg Progress

The Cordish Companies continues to make construction headway in Petersburg with the permanent Live! Casino & Hotel Virginia development.

Live! Virginia’s temporary pavilion tent casino has 926 slots and 32 table games. The permanent casino resort, a $600 million undertaking, is slated to house 1,600 slots, 60 tables, and a sportsbook.

Live! Casino & Hotel Virginia is targeting a late 2027 opening. Cordish has subsequent mixed-use development plans should the casino destination be a financial success.