Caesars Virginia is one of the state’s most popular casinos, but it’s thanks in part to an influx of North Carolina residents crossing the border to gamble.
The latest figures for Virginia’s casino industry are in, and they show a solid month of November. Caesars Virginia, located in Danville, boasted the second-most revenue for the month.
It’s a great sign for Virginia’s newest casino, which opened in May. Some of its success, though, comes from its location. The temporary facility is less than a four-mile drive from the North Carolina border and about 80 miles from the Triangle.
Here’s a closer look at Caesars Virginia’s latest numbers and how North Carolina residents factor into those totals.
Caesars Virginia revenue totals and where it ranks in the state
Virginia’s casino revenue numbers for November enjoyed nearly a $2 million jump from October’s figures. In total, the state’s three casinos accounted for $51.2 million in revenue last month.
Caesars Virginia operates in a temporary location while construction on the permanent facility continues. In November, the temporary Caesars Virginia casino totaled $17.5 million in adjusted gaming revenue. $12.8 million of that total came from slot machines, while roughly $4.69 million in revenue was generated through table games.
Caesars Virginia’s revenue figures ranked second in November behind Rivers Casino Portsmouth – the state’s only permanent casino. For comparison, Rivers Casino Portsmouth compiled $21.6 million in revenue, and Bristol Casino: Future Home of Hard Rock (another temporary facility) finished November with $12 million.
Do North Carolina bettors have an impact on these numbers?
They definitely do.
North Carolina residents crossing into Virginia for legal gambling isn’t a new thing. Before North Carolina added a state lottery in 2006, residents would head to Virginia for their lottery games.
“We get a lot of North Carolinians because there is no lottery in North Carolina,” Virginia Lottery spokesperson Cleve Parker previously told WRAL News. “We love North Carolinians at the Virginia Lottery.”
There is no specific number when it comes to figuring how many North Carolina residents cross into Virginia to spend their dollars at the Danville casino. But state auditors estimate that as much as 86% of Caesars Virginia’s revenue comes from out-of-state players. Given how close North Carolina is to the facility, you can assume a massive chunk of that 86% comes from the Tar Heel State.
That could change should regulators legalize North Carolina casinos. As NCSharp has found, doing so would be a boon to residents living in economically depressed areas.
But keep in mind, this is all at a temporary casino. The permanent Caesars Virginia location is slated to open in late 2024. It will have close to 1,300 slot machines – double what’s available now. The facility will also include 85 table games, a WSOP Poker Room and a Caesars Sportsbook. There will be a 500-room hotel, a massive conference center, restaurants and an entertainment center at the complex, too.
When Caesars Virginia opens its full-scale location within a year, you can expect its revenue numbers to jump initially. It will be the bright shiny new facility in town, and residents from all over Virginia will make the trek and see what it offers. But you can also expect that more North Carolina residents will make the drive, too.
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