Portsmouth, Rush Street Gaming unveil casino renderings

After receiving pre-certification from the Virginia Lottery Board last week to operate a Virginia casino, Rush Street Gaming on Tuesday revealed more details about the proposed $300 million Rivers Casino Portsmouth, including the first renderings of the gaming, conference and hotel complex.

The 400,000-square-foot Rivers Casino Portsmouth will include slot machines, table games and poker, as well as several restaurants, a hotel and conference space. There will also be a parking garage and surface parking available. 

Click to expand the renderings courtesy of the city of Portsmouth and Rush Street Gaming. 

“From these images, we get a sense of the aesthetics and energy that’s consistent with where Portsmouth is headed,” Malcom Mitchell, vice chair of the Economic Development Authority of the City of Portsmouth, said in a statement. “Rivers Casinos in New York, Pennsylvania and Illinois were each constructed on underutilized land — and today those casinos are surrounded by restaurants, theaters, stadiums and other development activity.

“The enhanced renderings are really bringing the vision for the corridor to life – it’s an exciting next step.”

Legislation passed by the General Assembly allowing five economically challenged cities to host one commercial casino each became legal on July 1. Hard Rock and Caesars Entertainment are planning resorts in Bristol and Danville, and the Pamunkey Indian Tribe has received city approval for its casino in Norfolk and is bidding in Richmond. Investors must put in at least $300 million into each project. The casinos are anticipated to bring in more than $1 billion in annual total revenues. Voters will have to approve the casinos in local referendums this year or next year for the projects to get the final green light.

The Portsmouth casino plans to be located along Interstate 264 in what will be deemed as the Entertainment District. Rush Street Gaming will also pay an additional $10 million to Portsmouth for acreage located on Victory Boulevard in Portsmouth.

“Immediately upon seeing the Victory Boulevard site, we envisioned Rivers Casino there,” Jacob Oberman, Rush Street Gaming senior vice president of development, said in a statement. “In working with city leadership over the past year, we’re confident that, together, we can create an amazing venue with tangible results for the people of Portsmouth.”

The Rush Street Project alone is anticipated to generate $16.3 million in annual tax revenue for Portsmouth and $260 million in annual regional GDP. The Portsmouth EDA anticipates that the casino will create 1,400 construction jobs, 2,000 permanent jobs — and $62 million annually in wages, salaries and tips. 

“These new enhanced renderings showcase what we’ve been envisioning, and we are grateful for the entire team that has gotten us to this point,” Portsmouth Mayor John L. Rowe Jr. said in a statement. “On top of the historic legislation, this casino and the Entertainment District will really reshape the future of this currently undeveloped area. These exciting visuals help make this project more of a reality.”

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