Caesars Danville Temporary Casino Helps City Fund Capital Projects

Posted on: February 23, 2024, 10:04h. 

Last updated on: February 23, 2024, 10:48h.

Devin O'Connor @CasinoorgDevinO Read More
Expertise: Asia Pacific Gaming, Commercial Gaming, Legislation, Politics.

Caesars Danville opened its temporary pavilion tent casino last May. In less than a year, associated gaming tax revenue earmarked for the host city in Southern Virginia along the North Carolina border is already paying dividends.

Caesars Danville casino Virginia
Danville city officials in Virginia say Caesars’ temporary casino is exceeding revenue expectations. As a result, the city has an extra $2 million to spend on capital projects. (Image: WRAL News)

The Danville City Council this week announced its intentions to use $2 million in casino gaming taxes to fund capital projects. Local government officials say the temporary casino, with 800 slot machines and 33 table games, plus sports betting kiosks, has exceeded previously budgeted expectations.

Danville Councilor Lee Vogler said the tax benefit was the whole reason why the town approved the casino in the first place.

It wasn’t just about, ‘Hey, let’s have a casino come here.’ It was about what it means for the community,” Vogler said during the Tuesday meeting.

As a result of the higher-than-expected tax revenue windfall, the Danville city government says it will spend $2 million on two projects, with each being allocated $1 million.

The first project will be the construction of a water splash pad at Ballou Park. Splash pads — or spray pools — are summertime recreational areas where there’s little to no standing water, which removes the necessity of having lifeguards.

The second $1 million project involves the designing and placing of underground electric lines along West Main Street in front of the casino entrance.

The proposed projects are being approved through local ordinances. The ordinances were introduced during the council’s February 20 meeting. They’re expected to be ratified through a council vote on March 5.

Casino Benefits

Danville was one of five cities allocated a casino privilege through state legislation passed in 2020. Danville voters subsequently signed off on their city’s proposed casino plan in partnership with Caesars Entertainment during the November 2020 election.

Caesars is constructing a $500 million permanent casino resort at the former Dan River Mills textile campus. The casino destination will incorporate the historic “Three Sisters” smokestacks, a focal point of the town for decades.

Virginia’s commercial gaming law allows approved casino projects to open temporary gaming facilities during the construction of the permanent resort. Caesars’ pavilion tent has been a major win for the Nevada-based gaming giant and the town.

Since opening in mid-May, Caesars’ temporary Danville gaming floor has generated more than $164.5 million in gross gaming revenue (GGR). Danville collects 6% of the GGR, which equates to about $9.9 million.

Caesars Virginia Details

Caesars Virginia, as the resort will be called, will feature a 12-story hotel with 320 guest rooms and a casino floor with 1,300 slots, 85 live dealer table games, a World Series of Poker Room, and a Caesars Sportsbook. The resort will come with a full-service spa and pool, an assortment of restaurant options from fine dining to quick-casual, a 2,500-seat concert hall, and 40,000 square feet of convention space.

Caesars Virginia will cater to Northern North Carolina, a state without commercial casinos. Caesars operates two tribal casinos in the mountainous, rural southwestern part of North Carolina on behalf of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.