The Norfolk Architectural Review Board is scheduled to review the Pamunkey Indian Tribe’s proposed HeadWaters Resort and Casino plans in early January, according to reports. The meeting could jumpstart long-awaited construction of the planned casino.  

Voters in Norfolk approved a casino referendum in November of 2020, yet construction has yet to begin more than three years later. Three other Virginia cities (Bristol, Danville, and Portsmouth) that approved referendums already have operational casinos. 

There’s optimism among Norfolk casino stakeholders that 2024 will finally bring significant progress toward the construction of a casino. Following the meeting of the Norfolk Architecture Review Board, the project still needs the go-ahead from the city planning commission and the Norfolk City Council.

The Pamunkey Indian Tribe is hopeful construction will begin in the spring of 2024. 

Three operational casinos thrive

Virginia’s three operational casinos have done well to generate revenue since their respective openings. Earlier this month, the Virginia Lottery shared November revenue numbers from the three casinos. 

Each casino generated at least $12 million in adjusted gaming revenue in November, with Rivers Casino Portsmouth leading the way with $21.6 million in monthly revenue. Caesars Virginia was close behind with $17.5 million, while Hard Rock Bristol brought in $12.1 million. 

The three brick-and-mortar casinos generated $10.3 million in tax revenue for the state. 

Virginia’s retail casino industry is thriving, especially with North Carolina only having tribal operations. Legislators in the Tar Heel State considered adding commercial casinos during the 2023 legislative session, but those talks died down. As a result, the Danville and Portsmouth locations are popular spots for North Carolina visitors. 

Norfolk is only about a 30-minute drive from the North Carolina border, and its casino could attract North Carolina residents when it opens. 

Neither state allows for legal online casinos, but Virginia currently has online sports betting. North Carolina’s mobile sports betting market will go live in the first half of 2024.

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