The Hard Rock Bristol Casino’s temporary location earned $3.7 million in adjusted gross receipts (AGR) in its first few days, with a total of over $37.5 million played from July 5 through July 14. The casino had soft openings before opening to the public on Friday, July 8.
Virginia Lottery Deputy Director of Gaming Compliance Gina Smith highlighted the numbers and said the casino was crowded in its first days.
“I will tell you that Saturday, you could not even walk on the floor,” Smith told the Virginia Lottery Board on July 20.
“What’s really important is, you know, the AGR and the taxes, almost $700,000 dollars to the commonwealth after just a week,” Smith said.
The total tax revenue was $673,928, according to Smith’s presentation, first reported by The Bristol Herald-Courier.
Virginia Code requires that tax funds from casinos be set aside and allocated to the host locality, a trust fund for child abuse and neglect, a problem gambling treatment fund, school improvements, and, if the facility is operated by a Virginia Indian tribe, to the Virginia Indigenous People’s Trust Fund.
Smith said that the casino donated the proceeds from its soft openings to the United Charities of Bristol.
The temporary location is in the Bristol Mall and has 30,000 square feet of casino space with about 870 slots, but the first phase of the permanent casino is expected to open in 2024 with 1,500 slots.
“Being able to be part of this and open this in the commonwealth was, truly and honestly, the highlight of my career,” Smith said.
“It’s because of the gaming compliance team that we have built. I have never worked with a better team,” she said.
Smith provided updates on Virginia’s three other casino projects, including the Rivers Casino Portsmouth, which is holding dealer training in August, and the HeadWaters Resort and Casino, set to open in spring 2023, while the Danville Caesars Casino is expected to open in 2024.
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Eric Burk is a reporter at The Virginia Star and The Star News Network. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Hard Rock Bristol Casino” by Hard Rock Bristol Casino.
