Norfolk To Have Casino Resort After Boyd Gaming Announced As New Partner

The city of Norfolk, Virginia, after years of delays and partnership changes, the Pamunkey Indian Tribe and Boyd Gaming have secured the necessary approvals to move forward with their ambitious plans for a casino resort.

The Norfolk casino project, previously known as the HeadWaters Resort & Casino, has undergone a significant shift. The Pamunkey Indian Tribe, the original developer, has now partnered with Boyd Gaming.

The Pamunkey Indian Tribe’s previous partnership with Tennessee investor Jon Yarbrough has come to an amicable end. Yarbrough, the founder of casino game producer Video Gaming Technologies, was originally slated to be the tribe’s corporate partner. However, the city and developers faced multiple delays in the project’s design and proposed two-phase construction, necessitating a change in direction.

The Pamunkey Indian Tribe has now turned to Boyd Gaming, a publicly traded, 49-year-old company with a strong presence in the casino industry. The tribe’s Chief, Robert Gray, expressed excitement about the new partnership, citing Boyd Gaming’s commitment to the community, shared values, and ability to “bring us across the finish line in time.”

The Norfolk casino project will now unfold in two distinct phases, with a temporary casino opening first, followed by the construction of a permanent resort.

According to the development agreement, the temporary casino is expected to be operational by November 2025, meeting the state’s deadline for the establishment of a casino in Norfolk. Construction on this “transitional casino” is set to begin in late February 2025 and be completed by mid-October 2025, with an opening targeted for November 5, 2025.

The permanent casino resort, which will be the primary focus of the project, is slated to commence construction in mid-January 2025 and be completed by August 2027. The grand opening of this permanent facility is planned for the following month, September 2027.

The resort will feature a 200-room hotel, offering visitors a luxurious and comfortable stay. Additionally, it will boast 13,000 square feet of meeting space, catering to conferences, events, and gatherings.

The casino itself will be a significant draw, with 1,500 slot machines and 50 table games. Complementing the gaming experience, the resort will also offer eight restaurants and bars.

To cater to the well-being of its guests, the resort will feature a 4,000-square-foot spa and gym, offering a range of rejuvenating treatments and fitness facilities.

During the construction phase, the project is estimated to have a local economic impact of $510 million, generating 2,850 temporary construction jobs and $173 million in salaries and wages.

Once the permanent casino resort is operational, the economic impact is projected to reach $2.9 billion, with 850 permanent jobs and $583 million in salaries and wages.

The Pamunkey Indian Tribe and Boyd Gaming have expressed a strong commitment to the local community. This includes hiring local veterans, who are in abundant supply in the Hampton Roads region, as well as investing in key priorities that will benefit the community for years to come.

The Norfolk casino project has faced its fair share of challenges, including delays and design disputes. However, the new partnership between the Pamunkey Indian Tribe and Boyd Gaming is determined to overcome these obstacles and deliver the project on time.

The previous partnership between the tribe and Tennessee investor Jon Yarbrough encountered delays due to disagreements over the design and proposed two-phase construction. The new partnership with Boyd Gaming aims to streamline the process and ensure timely completion.

A critical factor in the project’s success is the November 2025 deadline set by the state of Virginia, by which time a casino must be built and licensed by the Virginia Lottery. The partners are confident in their ability to meet this deadline, drawing on Boyd Gaming’s experience in completing other casino projects quickly.

The Norfolk casino project is part of a broader trend of casino developments in Virginia, with other cities like Danville, Bristol, and Portsmouth already having opened their own gaming facilities.

According to Boyd Gaming’s CEO and president, Keith Smith, the greater Norfolk area is one of the largest underserved gaming markets in the mid-Atlantic region, presenting a compelling opportunity for the company to expand its nationwide presence.