The Cordish Companies and Bruce Smith Enterprise Announce Opening Of Live! Casino Virginia On January 22, 2026
Region’s First Full-Scale Casino Will Feature Electrifying Energy of Vegas-Style Slots, Live-Action Table Games and Signature Excitement Only Live! Can Deliver
Live! is Currently Hiring for Over 500 Positions! Visit Our Recruitment Center or www.Livech.Com/Virginia/Careers to Learn More
PETERSBURG, Va. (November 24, 2025) – The Cordish Companies and Bruce Smith Enterprise are excited to announce the grand opening of LIVE! CASINO VIRGINIA on JANUARY 22, 2026 (pending regulatory approval). The opening of the temporary gaming facility marks an important milestone in bringing new jobs, economic activity, and tourism to the region while construction advances on the permanent destination next door.
“After years of planning, we’re thrilled to see this vision become reality,” said Rob Norton, President of Cordish Gaming Group. “When Live! Casino Virginia opens its doors, central Virginia will experience something truly exceptional – the region’s first full-scale casino featuring the electrifying energy of Vegas-style slots, live-action table games, and the signature excitement only Live! can deliver.”
Located just 25 miles south of Richmond and only 45 miles north of the North Carolina border, Live! Casino Virginia is conveniently off I-95 at Exit 48B. The temporary casino will operate on the same 100-acre site where Live! Casino & Hotel Virginia is currently under construction and will remain open until the permanent resort debuts.
When it opens this January, Live! Casino Virginia will deliver a full-scale gaming experience, featuring 75,000 square feet of gaming space with more than 900 state-of-the-art slot machines and over 30 live-action table games. Guests can also enjoy a signature bar and quick-service restaurant, with more than 1,000 free parking spaces for added convenience. Live! Casino Virginia brings its nationally recognized Live! Rewards Loyalty Program, recognized by USA Today’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Travel Awards as one of the country’s top casino loyalty programs. Combined with the signature excitement and superior hospitality only Live! can provide, the casino promises an unmatched entertainment experience for locals and out of town guests.
“In the past, travelers have simply driven past this area for other points of interest. From January 22 onwards, visitors will make the choice to come here as a prime destination,” said Bruce Smith, founder of Bruce Smith Enterprise.“As a champion of the area and its residents, I will be thrilled to open the doors of Live! Casino Virginia to continue in our mission to uplift, empower, and enrich this community for years to come.”
“The impact Live! Casino Virginia is having on Petersburg is significant,” said Mayor Sam Parham. “The temporary casino, and eventually the permanent destination resort, are going to transform the region, while shaping the future of our City for generations to come. This is just the start of an exciting new chapter.”
Upon completion, the full Live! Casino & Hotel Virginia resort destination will feature:
●Approximately 445,000 square feet of first-class gaming, hotel and dining space
●More than 70,000 square feet of meeting, convention and entertainment space
●An upscale 200-room hotel featuring 25 suites, resort pool and fitness center
●1,600 state-of-the-art slot machines
●60+ live-action table games, including a 22-table poker room
●High-limit slot and table areas
●Sportsbook
●Nearly 20 best-in-class food, bars and entertainment options including local partners
●Free parking
Live! Casino & Hotel Virginia is part of a larger $1.4 billion master plan by the partnership, scheduled to be developed in phases, that will bring a world-class mixed-use resort destination to the City of Petersburg.
JOIN OUR TEAM
Live! Casino Virginia is expected to create approximately 500 permanent jobs for local and regional residents, including more than 100 table games dealer positions. Additional job openings include facilities, security and surveillance, slot technicians, finance, cashier, restaurant and bar team, guest services, servers, and Environmental Services (EVS).
Those interested in learning more can visit the Live! Recruitment Center located at 1501 W. Washington Street, Petersburg, VA in the former Pepsi Warehouse or online at www.Livech.Com/Virginia/Careers. The recruitment center is open Monday – Friday from 9:00AM-5:00PM and will accept walk-ins for anyone interested in filling out a job application.
“We are thrilled to announce the opening date of Live! Casino Virginia on January 22, 2026,” said Penny Parayo, Senior Vice President & General Manager for Live! Casino Virginia. “Our team has been working hard day and night to be able to welcome guests through our doors for the first time in January. We encourage anyone interested in joining our team to visit us at our recruitment center as we continue building a strong, diverse workforce.”
Live! Casino & Hotel Virginia is being codeveloped by The Cordish Companies, one of the largest, most respected developer-operators of upscale mixed-use, entertainment and casino resort destinations in the United States, and Bruce Smith Enterprise, led by Virginia native, legendary Pro Football Hall of Famer, prominent developer, and community leader, Bruce Smith.
For over a century, The Cordish Companies has created and managed an extraordinary portfolio of award-winning destinations throughout the United States. Its Live! brand, highly regarded as one of the premier entertainment brands in the country, welcomes over 60 million annual visitors to its dining, entertainment, casino, hotel, and sports-anchored entertainment districts, many of which have revitalized communities and reshaped the social and economic landscape of major markets across the country. In gaming, The Cordish Companies has developed the most successful casino entertainment resorts in the U.S. including the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood and Tampa, FL; Live! Casino & Hotel Maryland in the Baltimore/Washington Corridor; Live! Casino & Hotel Philadelphia in the South Philadelphia Sports Complex; Live! Casino Pittsburgh; and Live! Casino & Hotel Louisiana.
Bruce Smith Enterprise, led by legendary Pro Football Hall of Fame member and Virginia native Bruce Smith, is a commercial real estate firm that specializes in the development of premier mixed-use projects. Headquartered in Virginia Beach, VA, the company has developed notable mixed-use properties throughout the state and the Mid-Atlantic region. Since retiring from professional football in 2004 after a prolific 19-year career, the NFL’s All-Time Sack Leader has endeavored to bring the same level of unparalleled excellence, diligence, and leadership that he honed as a veteran on the field to the management of Bruce Smith Enterprise.
For more information about Live! Casino Virginia and to stay up-to-date ahead of its grand opening in January, please visit www.livech.com/Virginia.
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About The Cordish Companies
The Cordish Companies’ origins date back to 1910 and encompass four generations of privately held, family ownership. During the past ten decades, The Cordish Companies has grown into a global leader in Gaming & Entertainment; Commercial Real Estate; Entertainment Districts; Sports-Anchored Developments; Hotels; Residential Properties; Restaurants; Coworking Spaces; and Private Equity. One of the largest and most respected developers in the world, The Cordish Companies has been awarded an unprecedented seven Urban Land Institute Awards for Excellence for public-private developments that are of unique significance to the cities in which they are located. The Cordish Companies has developed and operates highly acclaimed dining, entertainment and hospitality destinations throughout the United States, many falling under The Cordish Companies’ Live! Brand, highly regarded as one of the premier entertainment brands in the country. Welcoming over 60 million visitors per year, these developments are among the highest profile dining, entertainment, gaming, hotel and sports-anchored destinations in the country. In gaming, The Cordish Companies has developed among the most successful casino hotel resorts in the world, including the Hard Rock Hotels & Casinos in Hollywood and Tampa, FL, Live! Casino & Hotel Maryland, Live! Casino Pittsburgh and Live! Casino & Hotel Philadelphia. Over the generations, The Cordish Companies has remained true to the family’s core values of quality, entrepreneurial spirit, long-term personal relationships and integrity. As a testimony to the long-term vision of its family leadership, The Cordish Companies still owns and manages virtually every business it has created. For more information, visit www.cordish.com or follow us on us on LinkedIn and X.
“The Cordish Companies,” “The Cordish Company” and “Cordish” are trademarks used under license by independent corporations, legal liability companies and partnerships (“Cordish Entities”). Each Cordish Entity is a separate, single-purpose legal entity that is solely responsible for its obligations and liabilities. No common operations or financial interdependency, and no intermingling of assets or liabilities of the Cordish Entities exists, or should be deemed to exist, as a result of the potential common reference to multiple independent entities operating under the names “Cordish,” “The Cordish Companies” or “The Cordish Company” here or elsewhere.
About Bruce Smith Enterprise
Bruce Smith Enterprise, led by legendary Pro Football Hall of Fame member and Virginia native Bruce Smith, is a commercial real estate firm that specializes in the development of premier mixed-use projects. Headquartered in Virginia Beach, VA, the company has developed notable properties throughout the state and the Mid-Atlantic region that feature the cohesive and seamless integration of residential, hotel, Class A office, and retail space. Since retiring from professional football in 2004 after a prolific 19-year career, the NFL’s All-Time Sack Leader has endeavored to bring the same level of unparalleled excellence, diligence, and leadership that he honed as a veteran on the field to the management of Bruce Smith Enterprise. The successful development of timeless mixed-use properties that survive and withstand trends of the marketplace, strengthen and invigorate the local economy, and create jobs are core values of Bruce Smith Enterprise and its primary mission.
About Live! Casinos & Hotels
Live! Casinos & Hotels set a new standard in best-in-class customer experiences with highly-acclaimed resort, casino and entertainment destinations throughout the Mid-Atlantic region. Live! delivers a renowned blend of world-class accommodations and amenities, award-winning dining, casino gaming action, and headline entertainment, all in an exciting, spontaneous atmosphere that has become synonymous with the Live! Brand nationwide. Strategic national partnerships bring unique promotions and sports engagement opportunities to all Live! Properties. With a commitment to impeccable customer service and treating guests like part of the family, Live! Properties attract millions of visitors per year seeking unique experiences with gaming, dining and entertainment, all in one location. The portfolio includes Live! Casino & Hotel Maryland – located in the Washington, DC/Baltimore corridor; Live! Casino & Hotel Philadelphia – located in the heart of the South Philadelphia Stadium District; Live! Casino Pittsburgh – located in Westmoreland County, PA; Live! Casino & Hotel Louisiana - located in Bossier City, LA, near Dallas; and PlayLive.com – the company’s branded Internet gambling business in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Coming soon – Live! Casino & Hotel Virginia. Live! Casinos & Hotels are owned and operated by Cordish Gaming Group, a division of the world-renowned developers The Cordish Companies. For more information, visit https://visitlive.com/casinos.
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Cari Furman, The Cordish Companies
Renee Mutchnik, Live! Casino & Hotel Virginia
Hannah Robinson, The Hodges Partnership
hrobinson@hodgespart.com