The new Hard Rock Bristol Casino in Virginia, USA, which opened earlier this month as a temporary location while the state’s permanent Hard Rock complex is being built, recorded total gaming volume of more than $37.5 million during its first full week of operation, according to the Virginia Lottery Board.
Gina Smith, Deputy Executive Director of Gaming Enforcement, reported that Bristol Casino’s revenue after expenses was $3.74 million, and its first week generated more than $673,000 in taxes.
More than 90% of the revenue came from the casino’s 870 slot machines, which generated $34.57 million in bets and $31.22 million in winnings. Meanwhile, more than $2.93 million was wagered on table games.
Slots generated more than $600,000 in tax revenue and table games more than $71,200, according to Smith. Total game revenue included $100,000 raised during the July 5th and 7th VIP events. All this money was donated to the United Way of Bristol Tennessee-Virginia.
Hard Rock’s permanent estate in the state, scheduled to open in mid-2024, is expected to have 600 more slot machines and double the number of table games. Gina Smith further pointed out that her office holds monthly meetings with the three other state-approved casino projects, according to the Bristol Herald Courier.
The 3 projects are:
- Rivers Casino Portsmouth – not yet licensed but scheduled to open in early 2023.;
- Norfolk Casino – the project is managed by the Pamunkey Indian tribe and is expected to open its temporary facilities in March 2023;
- Caesars Danville – is expected to open sometime in 2024.
Separately, the Virginia Lottery also reported $3.7 billion in lottery ticket sales during the 2021-22 fiscal year, led by ‘scratchcards’ and online sales from iLottery.
Meanwhile, sports betting topped $2.1 billion during the first five months of 2022, Smith said, based on unaudited numbers. FanDuel is the state leader with 40.9% of all sports betting, followed by Draft Kings with 22.1%, BetMGM with 19.7% and Caesars with 9.1%.
