HeadWaters Resort & On line casino is pulling up the rear of the 4 business casinos in Virginia that had been approved in November 2020 by means of a poll referendum.
A rendering of the HeadWaters Resort & On line casino in Norfolk. The Virginia on line casino mission lately modified the way it’s to be constructed, with an preliminary on line casino anticipated to first open. (Picture: Pamunkey Indian Tribe)
Practically three years after Virginia voters signed off on a poll referendum that certified Norfolk as a on line casino host and the Hampton Roads city moved ahead with its resort growth accomplice, the Pamunkey Indian Tribe, the mission solely this week submitted its Improvement Certification Software to the town.
The tribe, which is partnered with billionaire Jon Yarbrough, who made his fortune in tribal gaming, cited COVID-19 delays and authorized considerations about the place it would open a brief on line casino in Norfolk because the main causes for the delay.
The tribe knowledgeable the town this week that it has since reworked the mission. As an alternative of a brief on line casino whereas the everlasting resort and gaming complicated is constructed, the Pamunkeys and Yarbrough now plan to assemble the $500 million vacation spot in two phases.
On line casino First, Resort Later
By means of its utility, the Pamunkey Indian Tribe revealed that it seeks to first construct HeadWaters’ on line casino house. The 90,000-square-foot facility would occupy about 5.3 acres of what’s at the moment a vacant parking zone adjoining to Norfolk’s Harbor Park minor league baseball stadium.
The on line casino ground is to span about 45,000 sq. ft. A 5,000-square-foot foyer and 4,500-square-foot sports activities bar are to accompany the on line casino.
Greater than 1,000 parking areas are to stay closest to the Elizabeth River, because the phase-one construction could be extra inland, nearer to Park Avenue. The second section is to incorporate a 300-room resort and resort that’s to miss the river.
The resort particulars are nonetheless being flushed out, however are anticipated to incorporate quite a few facilities, together with retail house, a number of eating places and bars, and assembly capabilities. HeadWaters beforehand stated the on line casino will moreover characteristic a marina the place boaters can dock.
Two-12 months Timeline
Norfolk was considered one of 5 cities that certified to contemplate a business on line casino by means of state laws handed in 2020. The gaming invoice seeks to help economically struggling cities like Norfolk with the advantages of a on line casino resort.
Not like the opposite qualifying cities that partnered with respected gaming operators and resort builders, Danville with Caesars Leisure and Bristol with Arduous Rock Worldwide, for instance, Norfolk metropolis officers partnered with the Pamunkey Indian Tribe. Regardless of having no expertise in working a on line casino or proudly owning a resort, the small tribe situated 60 miles northwest of the town grew to become the town’s most popular growth accomplice.
In 2020, some locals questioned the town’s unwavering dedication to the tribe. The Pamunkeys calmed a few of these considerations by bringing on Yarbrough, whose former firm, Video Gaming Applied sciences, labored with greater than 35 tribes in creating their casinos.
Jay Smith, a spokesperson for the HeadWaters Resort & On line casino mission, stated the most recent information that the tribe will first solely construct a on line casino and never a full resort shouldn’t elevate further alarms. Smith says the tribe will transfer shortly to construct the second section.
As soon as we begin working [the casino,] now we have a clock. We’ve to have the remainder of the product completed inside two years,” Smith stated.
Rivers On line casino Portsmouth is amid an analogous growth timeline. The on line casino simply throughout city from Norfolk opened in January with out a resort or resort.
