Operator News
US – Pamunkey Indian Tribe earmarks 2022 for casino opening in Norfolk
By Phil - 5 November 2020
Norfolk residents voted yes for the Virginian city to become home to the Norfolk Resort & Casino with around 66 per cent saying ‘yes.’
The $500m Norfolk waterfront resort and casino will be built by the Pamunkey Indian Tribe on the Elizabeth River next to Harbor Park. They are partnering Tennessee billionaire investor Jon Yarbrough. It will feature a 300-room hotel, 3,000 slots, 150 table games, steak and seafood restaurant, sports bar and grill, cafe, spa and 2,500-seat entertainment venue.
Jay Smith, Spokesman for the Norfolk Resort & Casino, said: “The residents of Norfolk have made it clear that they are excited about a resort and casino coming to the Mermaid City.”
Robert Gray, Chief of the Pamunkey Indian Tribe, added: “We are moved beyond words by the tremendous display of support we’ve received from the Norfolk community. To everyone who advocated on our behalf, shared our message with their friends and neighbours, put up a yard sign, wore a sticker or simply voted YES, we cannot thank you enough. We look forward to working with you to make Norfolk even stronger for decades to come. We look forward to working with you to make Norfolk even stronger for decades to come. It is expected to generate $185m in annual revenue and will fill 90 per cent of the resort’s jobs with area residents.”
Mr. Smith said the state would get $30m in casino tax every year with a further $50m being set aside for local schools. The Pamunkey Indian Tribe expects to begin construction work in early spring 2021 and to have the casino fully operational by 2022.
Norfolk joins Danville, Portsmouth and Bristol in welcoming a commercial casino. Richmond is the fifth economically challenged city to have that option with officials choosing to wait until 2021 before putting a casino referendum on the ballot.
