Mike Repole Churchill Downs Stake Explained for US Bettors
Alex Harper • Oct 8, 2026 
Eight months after opening, the Petersburg casino has pulled in $105 million, Virginia Lottery data shows. That number is the casino’s adjusted gross revenue: everything players bet, minus what they won back.
Live! Casino Virginia did it inside a stopgap tent beside I-95, not a finished resort. And the real resort next door won’t open until late 2027, so the biggest numbers are still ahead.
Key Insights
- $105M in revenue after winnings, between opening day and August 31, 2026
- A slot floor of 926 machines, backed by 32 tables
- A $600 million casino-hotel due before 2027 ends
- 600+ staff today, with roughly 1,000 extra roles to come
How the Petersburg Casino Reached $105 Million
Slot machines do most of the work at the Petersburg casino. The tent launched January 22, 2026, without a hotel or any poker tables.
In August, Live! Virginia posted $14.3 million in revenue. Slots brought in $10.7 million of that, while table games added $3.5 million. As a result, about three of every four dollars came from the slot floor.
The city also takes a direct cut. For example, Petersburg collected $855,172 in local gaming tax in August alone.
Temporary Petersburg Casino vs Permanent Resort
The 2027 resort adds far more gaming, plus a hotel, dining and an entertainment venue.
| Feature | Live! Casino Virginia (temporary) | Live! Casino & Hotel Virginia (permanent) |
| Opening | Jan. 22, 2026 | Late 2027 |
| Slot machines | 926 | About 1,600 |
| Table games | 32 | 60+ |
| Poker room | No | Yes, 22 tables |
| Hotel | None | 200 rooms (25 are suites) |
| Dining | One bar plus Luckies for quick bites | 20 dining and drinking spots |
| Entertainment | None | 70,000+ sq ft for shows, meetings and events |
| Jobs | 600+ | About 1,000 more |
Cordish supplied the 2027 figures, so final numbers may shift before opening day.
What Opens at Live! Casino & Hotel Virginia in 2027
The last steel beam went onto the 10-story hotel on Oct. 8, 2026. Builders call this “topping out,” and it means the frame is done. Next, crews move inside to fit out the rooms.
Maryland’s Cordish Companies is developing the resort alongside Hall of Fame pass rusher Bruce Smith’s company. Notably, it forms the first phase of a planned $1.4 billion entertainment district on Wagner Road.
So far, Cordish has named three of its 20 planned places to eat and drink:
- The Prime Rib: a fine-dining steak house
- Luk Fu: Asian dishes from several cuisines on one menu
- Sports & Social: game-day sports bar with room for big crowds
Petersburg Casino Revenue vs Other Virginia Casinos
Petersburg ranks fourth of five Virginia casinos by monthly revenue, even from a tent. Every one of the Virginia casinos falls under Lottery oversight and pays tax on a sliding scale.
| City | Casino | August 2026 revenue |
| Danville | Caesars Virginia | $33.1M |
| Portsmouth | Rivers Casino | $26.1M |
| Bristol | Hard Rock | $22.9M |
| Petersburg | Live! Casino Virginia | $14.3M |
| Norfolk | Interim Gaming Hall | $1.1M |
Bristol took the same route, running a temporary Hard Rock casino before its permanent resort opened in 2024. Similarly, Petersburg’s revenue should climb once the full building opens.
The city only won its license after Richmond voters rejected a casino twice. Lawmakers then let Petersburg hold its own vote. Petersburg joined a host-city list that began with Virginia’s first casino bill.
Other operators also chased the deal, including Bally’s bid for the city’s casino license. Over four in five Petersburg voters backed the Cordish plan in 2024.
Can You Play Casino Games Online in Virginia?
Not yet. Virginia allows online sports betting, but online casino games are still not legal in 2026.
One plan would have taxed online casino play at 20%, with another 6% set aside for land-based casinos. However, those bills stalled, and the fight now moves to the 2027 session. Rules change fast, so check the latest US gambling laws by state before you sign up anywhere.
What Petersburg Means for Virginia Players
Right now, the Petersburg casino offers slots and table games, while poker waits for the full resort. To get there, take I-95 to exit 48B. The drive from Richmond is roughly 25 miles, and parking is free.
Virginia law bars anyone under 21 from the casino floor. By contrast, gambling age limits in other states change by game and venue.
Set a spending limit before you walk in, and stick to it. If gambling stops feeling like fun, the free 1-800-GAMBLER helpline can help.
What Comes Next for Petersburg
The Petersburg casino earned $105 million in eight months from a tent, setting a high bar for 2027. With more slots, a poker room and a hotel, Live! Casino & Hotel Virginia could climb the state rankings fast. We’ll track the monthly Virginia Lottery numbers as the opening gets closer.
