The management of leading gambling and hospitality company Caesars Entertainment has announced that it is on schedule for an opening of its Danville property in 2024.
Caesars initiated the plan for a physical outlet in Danville back in August 2022 when it struck a partnership with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. According to the initial proposal, the $675 million casino resort is located on the site of the former Dan River Mills’ Schoolfield Division in Danville, Virginia.
The resort is expected to be named Caesars Virginia upon launch in late 2024. Construction started in the fall of 2022 and with one of the two years proposed for its completion gone, the company is confident of a grand opening next year.
Players Have Access to Gaming Services at Temporary Casino
In the meantime, Caesars customers in Virginia can enjoy retail gambling services at a temporary facility also located in Danville. The temporary casino opened for operations on May 15, 2023 and already boasts a world-class service offering. Currently, there are more than 400 employees at the outlet.
The slot machines at the temporary Danville casino number are expected to cross 800, while traditional and electronic table games stand at 33 and 36, respectively. Players can also find 12 sports betting kiosks to cater to their live and virtual wagering needs.
Local news agencies report that Chris Albrecht, the general manager of the proposed Caesars Virginia outlet claims the temporary casino staff will be transferred to the new resort once completed. Albrecht also maintained that Caesars will begin recruiting additional employees starting summer 2024.
Caesars Virginia had earlier planned to kickstart operations at its new outlet with 1,300 employees. However, Albrecht could neither affirm nor deny whether the casino would continue as proposed. Regardless, it would still need a significant addition of staff to complement the existing worker strength at its temporary location.
New Casino Property Expected to Contribute $38 Million Annual Tax Revenue
After its first operational year, Caesars Virginia is estimated to generate about $38 million worth of tax revenue to Danville. This figure is approximately 5.6% of the total cost of the property.
Some of the standout features of the casino resort will include a 2,500-seat theater, a 500-room hotel and a conference area measuring 40,000-square-foot. The casino will also feature a sportsbook, 1,400 slot machines, 85 table games, 24 electronic table games and a state-of-the-art poker room.
Whiting-Turner, the developer that constructed the Caesars Palace Las Vegas is in charge of setting up the Caesars edifice in Virginia. Specific information from Chris Albrecht revealed that the third floor of the hotel tower is currently under construction.
Workers have also made significant headway with the casino basement, especially the loading dock and back-of-house areas. The customer surface parking lots are also said to be close to completion. While Albrecht couldn’t comment on dining and restaurant options, he affirmed that the casino will subsequently share more details about these facilities later on.
Caesars Reeling From September’s Cybersecurity Incident
Away from casino construction, Caesars has offered victims of its recent data breach two years of IDX services. In September, the online systems at Caesars Entertainment fell to a cyberattack, effectively compromising customer data.
Caesars allegedly paid $15 million to prevent the sale or publication of the confidential data by hackers. Although the data hasn’t been released by hackers in any form, customers remain concerned about the safety of their information.
MGM Resorts, another gaming giant hit by the cyberattack, is also taking similar measures to strengthen customer confidence and prevent future occurrences.
