Live! Casino & Hotel Portsmouth Becomes Virginia's Second Casino to Open
Live! Casino & Hotel Portsmouth, operated by The Cordish Companies, opened in Portsmouth, Virginia in January 2023, becoming the second casino facility to open in the state following Bristol Casino's July 2022 launch and furthering the development of Virginia's new commercial casino market.
Key Takeaways
- Live! Casino & Hotel Portsmouth opened in January 2023, operated by The Cordish Companies
- Portsmouth is one of five Virginia cities authorised for casino gambling via 2020 voter referendums
- The Cordish Companies is a Baltimore-based entertainment and real estate company operating multiple 'Live!' branded casino and entertainment venues
- Live! Casino & Hotel Portsmouth offers a gaming floor, hotel rooms, dining, and entertainment
- Portsmouth voted to approve casino gambling in November 2020
- The casino represents a significant economic development investment in Portsmouth and the Hampton Roads region
Why It Matters — Players
Why It Matters — Operators
Live! Casino & Hotel Portsmouth opened in Portsmouth, Virginia in January 2023, operated by The Cordish Companies — the Baltimore-based entertainment and real estate company that operates a network of "Live!" branded casino and entertainment venues across the United States. The opening made Portsmouth the second Virginia city to see a casino open following Bristol's July 2022 launch, advancing the development of Virginia's commercial casino market.
Portsmouth's Casino Referendum and Development
Portsmouth was among the five Virginia cities whose voters approved casino gambling in the November 2020 referendums that activated the state's commercial casino framework. The Cordish Companies, which operates Live! Casino & Hotel Maryland at Arundel Mills and Live! Casino Pittsburgh among other properties, was selected as the casino developer for Portsmouth.
Portsmouth is part of the Hampton Roads metropolitan area in Southeast Virginia — a region of approximately 1.8 million people that includes the cities of Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, and Hampton. The Hampton Roads region's population base and proximity to the Atlantic Coast made it an attractive casino market location.
The Live! Brand
The Cordish Companies' "Live!" brand encompasses a portfolio of casino hotels, dining and entertainment complexes, and sports entertainment venues primarily located on the East Coast. The brand's casino properties are typically large-scale mixed-use developments combining gaming with hotel accommodation, restaurant concepts, live music venues, and event facilities. This model is designed to attract non-gaming visitors as well as dedicated casino customers.
Virginia Casino Market Development
By early 2023, Virginia had two operational casino facilities — Bristol and Portsmouth — with additional facilities in Danville and Norfolk also in various stages of development. The Richmond market, the fifth authorised casino city, followed a more complex path involving multiple referendum attempts.
Virginia's multi-city casino model continued to develop as permanent facilities replaced or supplemented the initial temporary openings.
- Source:
- CDC Gaming Reports
- Published:
- January 23, 2023
- Original Article:
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