The Cordish Companies and Bruce Smith Enterprise on Thursday held a topping-out ceremony for the construction of Live! Casino & Hotel Virginia in Petersburg. The destination is being built on the same site as Live! Casino Virginia, the temporary gaming facility that opened in January.
“The topping out of Live! Casino & Hotel Virginia is a defining moment for this project and a significant milestone in the continued expansion of the Live! brand nationwide,” The Cordish Companies CEO and Chairman David Cordish said in a statement. “With its scale, quality and breadth of offerings, Live! Casino & Hotel Virginia will establish a new standard for gaming, hospitality and entertainment in the Commonwealth.
“We are incredibly proud to reach this important milestone with our partner, Bruce Smith, our team members, the project team, City of Petersburg and the broader community. We look forward to delivering a project that will generate new jobs, attract significant tourism, drive economic opportunity, and serve as a catalyst for the region for decades to come.”
The Cordish Companies and Bruce Smith Enterprise were joined by Speaker of the House, Virginia House of Delegates Don Scott; Virginia Senator Lashrecse Aird; Virginia Delegate Kimberly Pope Adams; Petersburg City Mayor Samuel Parham; and AnderCorp Chairman & CEO Roy Anderson III, along with regional business, community and tourism leaders to celebrate the final commemorative beam being raised for the property, scheduled to open in late 2027.
“Today is an exciting milestone not only for Live! Casino & Hotel Virginia, but also for the City of Petersburg and the entire region,” said Pro Football Hall of Fame member Bruce Smith, owner of Bruce Smith Enterprise and a developer and community leader. “This project represents an extraordinary investment in the region’s future, creating new opportunities for residents, businesses and visitors. I am proud to be part of a development that is helping transform the city and drive economic growth.”
Today’s celebration included a special check presentation of $15,929.82 to Lending Helping Hands as part of Live’s “Change Maker” program, a charitable initiative allowing guests to donate remaining change from their winnings to a nonprofit through its cashout kiosks. The program selects a new organization each quarter to be the beneficiary of the leftover winning change.
Since the program launch in January 2026, nearly $45,000 has been donated to non-profit organizations in the Greater Richmond Area.
Live! Casino & Hotel Virginia is at the intersection of Wagner Road and Interstate I-95 with easy access to the East Coast’s major north-south interstate. Just 25 miles south of Richmond and 45 miles north of the North Carolina border, Live! Casino & Hotel Virginia will feature:
- 445,000+ square feet of gaming, hotel and hospitality space
- 1,600+ Vegas-style slot machines
- More than 70 live table games, including a 35-table poker room
- A sportsbook
- A 200-room hotel, resort pool, spa and fitness center
- About 70,000-square-foot multi-purpose event center for entertainment, meetings, conventions, nonprofits and social gatherings
- 20 dining, entertainment and beverage spaces
The new resort destination will be a transformative project for the region, creating economic development and community benefits for the City of Petersburg and its residents. According to a news release, in its first 10 years Live! Casino & Hotel Virginia is projected to generate:
- $2.8 billion in economic stimulus to the region
- $504 million in tax revenues, including $240 million to the City of Petersburg
- $802 million in economic benefits during construction
- $201 million in annual economic benefits each year after opening
- 7,700 jobs, including 6,100 during construction and 1,600 permanent jobs
“Today marks a significant moment in Petersburg’s continued transformation,” said Petersburg Mayor Samuel Parham. “Live! Casino & Hotel Virginia represents a major investment in our city and our people, creating jobs, generating economic opportunity and bringing new energy and activity to Petersburg. We thank The Cordish Companies and Bruce Smith Enterprise for their continued partnership in delivering this world-class destination. We are excited to see this transformative project reach this milestone and look forward to the lasting impact it will have on our community and region.”
Live! Casino & Hotel Virginia will feature 20 restaurant and bar spaces throughout the resort, including concepts Sports & Social, The Prime Rib and Luk Fu.
Live! Casino Virginia has generated more than 600 permanent jobs for local and regional residents, including more than 100 table games dealer positions. The anticipated opening of Live! Casino & Hotel Virginia will add an additional 1,000 permanent jobs.
Career opportunities include areas of gaming, hotel services, security, surveillance, cooks, servers, bartenders, guest services, environmental services, facilities, cashiers, finance, events, hospitality sales, marketing and more.
The Richard Bland College Dealer Institute, in partnership with Live! Casino & Hotel Virginia, offers a free seven-week program that provides students with an immersive curriculum focused on learning the techniques of dealing blackjack and other table games. The program also focuses on customer service, game integrity and industry regulations.
Live! Casino & Hotel Virginia says it will buy tens of millions of dollars in goods and services in the region. The Cordish Companies and Bruce Smith Enterprise are committed to ensuring contract opportunities for local, minority black enterprises, women’s black enterprises, and veteran-owned companies.
The Cordish Companies, Bruce Smith Enterprise and AnderCorp will host a Local Contractor & Vendor Fair on October 14 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Petersburg Public Library to provide information on work opportunities for the new Live! Casino & Hotel Virginia.
The event is free and open to qualified local suppliers and contractors, and will highlight procurement opportunities and business policies for vendors interested in doing business with the casino. This event is being held in partnership with the Virginia Department of Small Business & Supplier Diversity.
Representatives of The Cordish Companies, Bruce Smith Enterprise and AnderCorp will speak with local suppliers and contractors that provide services including:
- Facilities and maintenance
- Food and beverage
- Printing and signage
- Office and computer supplies
- Professional services
- Construction and subcontractor services
- Hotel and spa products and services
