Rivers Casino Portsmouth workers win Virginia’s first casino union contract

In a first for Virginia’s gaming industry, workers at Rivers Casino Portsmouth have approved a three-year union contract with a 95% yes vote.

Represented by Teamsters Local 822, 29 slot attendants at the casino are now the first casino workforce in the state to ratify a collective bargaining agreement. Union leaders say the deal will set a precedent for wages and workplace protections as casinos continue to expand across Virginia.

The contract covers pay, locks in employer-paid health care coverage, provides protections from at-will employment and grants additional paid time off.

“This is history in the making,” Local 822 President James Wright said in a statement. “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.”

Negotiations lasted about two years, according to Veronica Sawyer, assistant director of convention trade show and casino division for the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, who said health care was a top priority. Union coverage is saving some workers as much as $100 or more a month.

In a statement, slot attendant and Local 822 member Natasha O’Guinn said the contract meant stability for her and her 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,” she said. “We finally have a voice and a fair contract that respects what we do every day.”

According to Sawyer, the agreement only applies to the casino’s 29 slot attendants, as employees with other roles at the casino are not yet represented by the union. Since opening in 2023, the casino employs about 1,200 people.

However, Sawyer says the contract will have broad implications for the state’s casino industry, likely influencing others to advocate for similar agreements.

“I think it’s going to play a big part in the gaming industry,” she said. “A new casino is coming in Norfolk. And you know, people are paying attention. Health care is a big issue with workers having to pay a lot of money for company health insurance, and the employer has control over how much they pay. And so I think when people see the health care that the slot attendants have, others are going to be reaching out and wanting to get on board, just for that alone.”

Virginia has three casinos operating in Bristol, Danville and Portsmouth, and temporary casinos are set to open soon in Norfolk and Petersburg, with permanent casinos to follow.

Rivers Casino Portsmouth did not comment about the precedent this agreement may set or how it might impact employee recruitment and retention or whether these types of agreements are common across Rush Street Gaming properties. However, the company said it valued its workers and remains committed to “providing a supportive and rewarding workplace for all our team members while furthering our investment in Portsmouth.”

“We look forward to continuing our positive relationship with the Teamsters and are pleased that, through recent negotiations, we were able to bring wages for the individual work group they represent in line with the increases achieved by our other team members,” the casino said in a statement.

In May, Rush Street, a Chicago-based casino developer, and Rivers Casino Portsmouth announced plans to build a $65 million hotel adjacent to the casino, with an estimated opening in early 2027. To be known as the Landing Hotel, the eight-story property will feature 106 guest rooms, including 32 suites. S.B. Ballard Construction was announced as the hotel’s general contractor in July. A casino spokesperson previously said construction began in the summer.

Based in Norfolk, Teamsters Local 822 represents over 3,000 workers across the Hampton Roads area working in a variety of industries.