Slated to Open by the End of 2027, Live! Casino & Hotel Virginia is Projected to Generate $2.8 Billion in Economic Stimulus to the Region in First 10 Years of Operation and Create Approximately 1,600 New Permanent Jobs
Resort Will Feature Over 20 Best-in-Class Food & Beverage Venues Including Award-Winning Concepts Sports & Social, The Prime Rib® and Luk Fu
Local Contractor & Vendor Fair to Take Place on Oct. 14th from 10am-2pm at the Petersburg Public Library
PETERSBURG, Va., Oct. 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The Cordish Companies and Bruce Smith Enterprise marked a significant milestone today in the construction of LIVE! CASINO & HOTEL VIRGINIA during a topping out ceremony for the new world-class gaming, hotel, dining and entertainment destination opening in Central Virginia. The destination is being built on the same site as Live! Casino Virginia, the temporary gaming facility that opened in January.
The Cordish Companies and Bruce Smith Enterprise were joined by Speaker of the House, Virginia House of Delegates Don Scott; Virginia Senator Lashrecse Aird; Virginia Delegate Kimberly Pope Adams; Petersburg City Mayor Samuel Parham; and AnderCorp Chairman & CEO Roy Anderson III, along with regional business, community and tourism leaders to celebrate the final commemorative beam being raised for Live! Casino & Hotel Virginia which is scheduled to open in late 2027.
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“The topping out of Live! Casino & Hotel Virginia is a defining moment for this project and a significant milestone in the continued expansion of the Live! brand nationwide,” said David Cordish, CEO and Chairman of The Cordish Companies. “With its scale, quality and breadth of offerings, Live! Casino & Hotel Virginia will establish a new standard for gaming, hospitality and entertainment in the Commonwealth. We are incredibly proud to reach this important milestone with our partner, Bruce Smith, our team members, the project team, City of Petersburg and the broader community. We look forward to delivering a project that will generate new jobs, attract significant tourism, drive economic opportunity, and serve as a catalyst for the region for decades to come.”
“Today is an exciting milestone not only for Live! Casino & Hotel Virginia, but also for the City of Petersburg and the entire region,” said Bruce Smith, Owner of Bruce Smith Enterprise, Pro Football Hall of Fame Member, Developer and Community Leader. “This project represents an extraordinary investment in the region’s future, creating new opportunities for residents, businesses and visitors. I am proud to be part of a development that is helping transform the city and drive economic growth.”
Live! Casino & Hotel Virginia is ideally situated at the intersection of Wagner Road and Interstate I-95 with easy access on and off the East Coast’s major north-south interstate. Located just 25 miles south of Richmond and only 45 miles north of the North Carolina border, Live! Casino & Hotel Virginia will feature:
- 445,000+ square feet of first-class gaming, hotel and hospitality space
- 1,600+ state-of-the-art Vegas-style slot machines
- More than 70 live action table games, including a 35-table poker room
- A sportsbook
- An upscale 200-room hotel, resort pool, spa and fitness center
- Approximately 70,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art, multi-purpose Event Center for top-name entertainment, meeting, conventions, nonprofit and social gatherings
- 20 best-in-class dining, entertainment and beverage spaces
The new world-class resort destination will be a transformative project for the region, creating economic development and community benefits for the City of Petersburg and its residents. In its first 10 years, Live! Casino & Hotel Virginia is projected to generate:
- $2.8 billion in economic stimulus to the region
- $504 million in tax revenues including $240 million to the City of Petersburg
- $802 million in economic benefits during construction
- $201 million in annual economic benefits each year after opening
- 7,700 new jobs including 6,100 during construction and 1,600 permanent jobs
“Today marks a significant moment in Petersburg’s continued transformation,” said Petersburg Mayor Samuel Parham. “Live! Casino & Hotel Virginia represents a major investment in our city and our people, creating jobs, generating economic opportunity and bringing new energy and activity to Petersburg. We thank The Cordish Companies and Bruce Smith Enterprise for their continued partnership in delivering this world-class destination. We are excited to see this transformative project reach this milestone and look forward to the lasting impact it will have on our community and region.”
Premier Dining, Entertainment and Beverage Offerings Unveiled
Live! Casino & Hotel Virginia will feature 20 restaurant and bar spaces throughout the resort, including award-winning concepts Sports & Social, The Prime Rib® and Luk Fu.
Sports & Social is the premier sports bar and restaurant concept in the United States, offering guests an immersive sports entertainment atmosphere as the next best game-watching experience outside of a stadium or arena. Designed for fans who want more than just a place to watch the game, Sports & Social combines state-of-the-art audiovisual technology, large-format screens, premier sports viewing, interactive games, and high-energy programming. As a USA Today Top 10 Sports Bar honoree, Sports & Social delivers an unmatched destination for major sporting events, watch parties, celebrations, and everyday social occasions.
Located at the front door of professional sports stadiums, high-profile entertainment districts, world-class casino resort destinations and upscale lifestyle developments across the country, Sports & Social can be found in 18 locations nationwide including The Battery adjacent to Truist Park in Atlanta; Ballpark Village adjacent to Busch Stadium in St. Louis; Texas Live! in the Arlington Entertainment District; Live! Casino & Hotel Maryland in the Baltimore/Washington corridor and Live! Casino & Hotel Philadelphia in the South Philadelphia Sports Complex.
Guests can expect a full menu of made-from-scratch gameday favorites, curated cocktails and specialty drinks, including its signature Crush selection, and a variety of beer from national brews and local favorites. The 8,000-square-foot venue will feature one of the best sports watching experiences in the region with its premier game-day Sports Watch activations. The space will boast an impressive LED screen spanning 82 feet wide and 14 feet tall at its centerpiece that will show multiple games and sporting events at once.
The Prime Rib® is renowned for luxurious fine dining and exceptional service in an environment of timeless sophistication and has garnered numerous accolades, including being named a Top 10 Best Casino Restaurant by USA Today Readers’ Choice Awards, as well as receiving The Wine Spectator Award of Excellence in 2026. The restaurant has also consistently been rated #1 by Zagat in its locations in Washington, D.C., Maryland, Pennsylvania and Louisiana.
The award-winning menu features a tantalizing array of steaks cooked to perfection, such as the restaurant’s signature prime rib, prime cuts of filet mignon, ribeye, porterhouse and NY strip, alongside jumbo lump crab cakes, Chilean sea bass, ahi tuna, salmon and other seafood specialties. A selection of signature salads, sides and desserts completes the experience.
Luk Fu will offer an immersive Pan-Asian dining experience featuring authentic flavors from China, Korea, Vietnam, Thailand, and Japan weaved together with locally grown produce, poultry, seafood and meats. The highly acclaimed restaurant with locations in Maryland, Pennsylvania and Louisiana was awarded “Best Asian and Best Sushi” by Casino Player Magazine’s 2025 Best of Dining & Nightlife Awards. The restaurant and bar will feature a menu of fresh sushi, wok-fired specialties, noodle dishes, traditional soups, signature dishes and chef-crafted favorites. Luk Fu and The Prime Rib at Live! Casino & Hotel Virginia are being designed by Beth Bloom Designs, a national design firm that specializes in restaurant, bar and hospitality spaces that create memorable food and beverage experiences.
Additional dining and bar offerings, including local hospitality partnerships, are due to be announced throughout the year leading up to the 2027 opening.
Live! Casino & Hotel Virginia Will Add 1,000 More Jobs
Live! Casino Virginia has already generated more than 600 permanent jobs for local and regional residents, including more than 100 table games dealer positions. The anticipated opening of Live! Casino & Hotel Virginia will add another 1,000 new permanent jobs. Career opportunities include areas of gaming, hotel services, security, surveillance, cooks, servers, bartenders, guest services, environmental services, facilities, cashiers, finance, events, hospitality sales, marketing and more. For a full list of job opportunities, visit www.Livech.Com/Virginia/Careers.
The Richard Bland College (RBC) Dealer Institute in partnership with Live! Casino & Hotel Virginia offers a free 7-week program that provides students with an immersive curriculum focused on learning the techniques of dealing blackjack and other table games. The program also focuses on customer service, game integrity and industry regulations. The next class begins November 16, 2026. For more information, visit https://www.rbc.edu/rbc-dealer-institute/.
Local Contractor & Vendor Fair October 14
Live! Casino & Hotel Virginia will purchase tens of millions of dollars in goods and services in the region. As recognized leaders in community outreach with unparalleled track records of supporting local and regional businesses, The Cordish Companies and Bruce Smith Enterprise are committed to ensuring contract opportunities for local, MBE/WBE, and veteran-owned companies.
The Cordish Companies, Bruce Smith Enterprise and AnderCorp will host a Local Contractor & Vendor Fair on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Petersburg Public Library to provide information on work opportunities for the new Live! Casino & Hotel Virginia.
The event, which is free and open to qualified local suppliers and contractors, will highlight procurement opportunities and business policies for vendors interested in doing business with the casino. This event is being held in partnership with the Virginia Department of Small Business & Supplier Diversity.
Representatives of The Cordish Companies, Bruce Smith Enterprise and AnderCorp are eager to speak with local suppliers and contractors that provide services such as:
- Facilities and Maintenance
- Food and Beverage
- Printing and Signage
- Office and Computer Supplies
- Professional Services
- Construction and Subcontractor Services
- Hotel and Spa Products and Services
Live! in the Community
Today’s milestone celebration included a special check presentation in the amount of $15,929.82 to Lending Helping Hands as part of Live’s “Change Maker” program, a charitable initiative allowing guests to donate remaining change from their winnings to a nonprofit through its cashout kiosks. The program selects a new organization each quarter to be the beneficiary of the leftover winning change. Since the program launch in January 2026, nearly $45,000 has been donated to non-profit organizations in the Greater Richmond Area.
The Live! Change Maker program is a key pillar of Live! Casino Virginia’s continued commitment to corporate social responsibility and supporting the communities where its guests and team members work and live. The Cordish Companies and Bruce Smith Enterprise have a distinguished record of leadership in philanthropy, volunteerism and community service, collaborating with local nonprofit organizations across their business locations and actively engaging with communities. Cordish and Bruce Smith Enterprise are dedicated to supporting the Petersburg community and its nonprofits through direct financial contributions, in-kind services and by facilitating community organizations’ fundraising and volunteer efforts – an endemic value held by the companies and their team members.
For more information about Live! Casino Virginia, please visit www.livech.com/Virginia.
About The Cordish Companies
The Cordish Companies’ origins date back to 1910 and encompass five 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 65 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 and follow us on LinkedIn.
“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. The temporary Live! Casino Virginia is located in Petersburg, VA just 25 miles south of Richmond, VA. The full resort destination, Live! Casino & Hotel Virginia, is scheduled to open by the end of 2027. 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.
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