On Wagner Road, alongside Interstate 95, lies a white tent with 75,000 square feet of space inside. Tables for more than 30 games are being put inside now, and more than 900 slot machines will go under the tent next month.
Then, in January, Petersburg’s first (temporary) casino is slated to open under that tent.
“We’re super excited,” said Renee Mutchnik, communications vice president for Live! Casino & Hotel Virginia. ”We have a free dealer school. It’s a four week class. We’re teaching blackjack for four weeks, and then afterwards, we’ll review and audition the dealers and hopefully offer them jobs and a career in gaming.”
The company estimates the temporary casino will generate about 500 jobs. Casino officials estimate a total economic stimulus of $504 million in Central Virginia during the permanent casino’s first decade of operations; that includes about $240 million directly to the city of Petersburg.
