The Norfolk on line casino growth known as HeadWaters Resort & On line casino is claimed to be again on monitor following some confusion concerning the property’s development timeline.
A rendering of the proposed HeadWaters Resort & On line casino on the banks of the Elizabeth River in Norfolk adjoining to the town’s minor league baseball ballpark. HeadWaters is a $500 million growth being spearheaded by the Pamunkey Indian Tribe and billionaire Jon Yarbrough. (Picture: HeadWaters Resort & On line casino)
HeadWaters is a $500 million mission that Norfolk voters licensed via a neighborhood poll referendum throughout the 2020 presidential election. The on line casino pitch got here from the Pamunkey Indian Tribe and billionaire gaming business veteran Jon Yarbrough.
Norfolk was certainly one of 5 cities that Virginia lawmakers in 2020 designated as potential industrial on line casino host places. The gaming invoice is designed to assist that handful of cities in turning round their poor financial circumstances.
Virtually three years after Norfolk residents backed the HeadWaters plan with 65% help, little work has been carried out on the 13.5-acre development website adjoining to the town’s Harbor Park minor league baseball stadium. The most recent delays had been blamed on confusion amongst metropolis officers and the on line casino builders concerning a proposed phased development timeline for the resort.
The tribe and Yarbrough pulled their on line casino utility from the town’s Architectural Evaluation Board final month. HeadWaters reps cited blended messaging from the Norfolk Metropolis Council within the choice to rescind the development approval request.
Sides Again in Unison
HeadWaters was initially to be a single-phase development endeavor. However in early July, the builders reworked the timeline to incorporate two phases.
The primary part was to incorporate a 90,000-square-foot constructing encompassing the on line casino area, resort foyer, restaurant, sports activities bar, and parking construction. The second part was to incorporate the 300-room lodge and resort-style facilities corresponding to a spa, further eating places, a rooftop pool, and an occasions heart.
Native officers pushed again in opposition to the timeline on the grounds that the town’s host settlement with the builders didn’t specify the allowance of a phased development schedule. The Virginian-Pilot reviews that the 2 sides are again on the identical web page and are at present remodeling a single-phase development plan.
Whereas we acknowledge prior communication which contemplated a phased design approval course of, we have now no such amendments to our agreements which might enable for this,” Norfolk Metropolis Supervisor Patrick Roberts wrote the on line casino growth group in a July 14 letter. “Additional, the town is not going to take into account amendments to our agreements that will danger the ultimate mission being something lower than what was agreed upon in 2020.”
Officers from HeadWaters met with metropolis leaders on July 25 to treatment the misunderstanding. A joint assertion was launched following the discussions that affirmed “each side stay absolutely dedicated” to the 2020 on line casino plan residents endorsed.
Rivers Advantages From HeadWaters Delays
Norfolk and Portsmouth are two of the 5 cities cleared for a on line casino within the 2020 Virginia gaming invoice. The 2 neighboring Hampton Roads cities are separated by the Elizabeth River.
Portsmouth voters additionally accredited of their on line casino mission throughout the November 2020 election. The town’s on line casino developer, Rush Avenue Gaming, wasted no time in constructing and opening its gaming property, Rivers On line casino Portsmouth.
Rivers Portsmouth opened on Jan. 23, 2023. The on line casino has since been advertising and marketing its operations and constructing its market share within the Hampton Roads area.
Since its opening, Rivers Portsmouth’s 1,420 slot machines and 81 desk video games have generated gross gaming income (GGR) of about $119.8 million. Rivers’ finest month to this point was skilled in February, the on line casino’s first full month in operation, when GGR exceeded $24.6 million.
Together with slots and tables, Rivers On line casino Portsmouth contains a BetRivers Sportsbook. The on line casino doesn’t supply an on-site lodge or resort-style facilities.
