Rivers Casino Portsmouth marked its first anniversary on Victory Boulevard with a unique Time Capsule Ceremony this Saturday. The event celebrated Virginia’s first permanent casino, a landmark in the state’s gaming history.

What You Need to Know

• Rivers Casino Portsmouth celebrated its first anniversary as Virginia’s first permanent casino with a Time Capsule Ceremony on Victory Boulevard.
• The event featured prominent figures, including Roy Corby, Tim Drehkoff, Senator L. Louise Lucas, and Mayor Shannon Glover. A time capsule was buried, to be opened in 2073, containing artifacts and memorabilia.
• The anniversary marks the beginning of various celebratory events, including live performances, gaming promotions, and an anniversary t-shirt giveaway

The ceremony featured key figures such as Roy Corby, the general manager of Rivers Casino Portsmouth, and Tim Drehkoff, the CEO of both Rivers Casino Portsmouth and Rush Street Gaming. They were joined by notable local and state leaders, including Senator L. Louise Lucas, Speaker Don Scott Jr., Portsmouth Mayor Shannon Glover, Dr. Marcia Conston from Tidewater Community College (TCC), and Melissa Ramsey, the casino’s community relations director.

A special time capsule, set to be opened in 2073, was the highlight of the event. Buried near the casino’s water feature, it contains historic items: a groundbreaking shovel, ribbon-cutting scissors from the opening, and memorabilia from the casino’s first and second millionth customers. It also includes tributes to the first class of table dealers trained through the Rivers Casino-TCC partnership.

The capsule includes several historic “firsts”. It holds the signed bill authorizing casino gaming in Virginia from Senator Lucas, the Virginia Senate’s first woman and African American President Pro Tempore, and a gavel from Speaker Scott, the first Black speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates.

Roy Corby spoke about Virginia’s history of firsts and the casino’s role in it. “Virginia boasts a rich history of pioneering achievements, and Rivers Casino Portsmouth is proud to join such a prestigious roster as the first-ever permanent casino in Virginia,” he stated.

Mayor Shannon Glover concluded the ceremony by acknowledging Rivers Casino Portsmouth as a key economic contributor and a valued community partner. He emphasized its reputation of being a great workplace for the region.

This historic moment led to a lunch celebration and is the start of a series of anniversary events. These include live performances by Kool & The Gang and Parmalee, gaming promotions, and an anniversary t-shirt giveaway.