Norfolk’s long-awaited temporary casino opens Friday

The wait is nearly over: Norfolk‘s first casino experience opens Friday inside a temporary gaming hall — a precursor to the future $750 million resort and casino rising next door.

The Interim Gaming Hall, a tentlike structure developed by Boyd Gaming and the Pamunkey Indian Tribe, offers a first glimpse of what’s ahead. Though modest in scale, with 132 slot machines spread across a 3,600-square-foot gaming floor, its debut marks the first time casino play will be available in Norfolk after years of planning.

The gaming facility will operate daily from 10 a.m. to 2 a.m. Rows of machines light up with recognizable gaming titles such as Buffalo Ultimate Stampede and the influencer-favorite Huff N’ Even More Puff.

“These are some of the most popular games in the country right now,” said casino spokesperson Jay Smith.

The site also features  Norfolk’s Ghost Kitchen food truck and what General Manager Ron Bailey describes as the first alcohol vending machine in the state.

Boyd and the Pamunkey tribe expect to open the permanent casino resort, which is currently unnamed, in late 2027. Expected to create 850 jobs, the resort will have a 65,000-square-foot casino, a 200-room hotel, eight food and beverage outlets and a 45,000-square-foot outdoor deck. It will also include 1,500 slot machines and 50 table games, as well as 13,000 square feet of meeting space and 4,000 square feet of spa and gym space. The operators expect to announce its brand next year, according to a news release.

Editor’s note: This story is breaking and will be updated