Rivers Casino Portsmouth Unveils Restaurants, Tracking for Early 2023 Opening

Posted on: August 17, 2022, 12:09h. 

Last updated on: August 18, 2022, 02:13h.

Devin O'Connor @CasinoorgDevinO Read More

Expertise: Asia Pacific Gaming, Commercial Gaming, Legislation, Politics.

Rivers Casino Portsmouth yesterday revealed what sort of restaurant and quick-service dining options patrons will be offered when the $300 million resort opens early next year.

Rivers Portsmouth, a Chicago-based Rush Street Gaming project, plans to open next year with seven eating and drinking establishments. The property’s marquee restaurant will be Admiral’s Steak & Seafood, a fine-dining steakhouse serving a selection of prime cuts of meat and fresh seafood.

Mian, an Asian-inspired, made-to-order quick-service joint, will offer Chinese dishes such as General Tso’s chicken, fried rice, lo mein, and spring rolls. Slice Pizzeria is the go-to stop for a quick slice of pie.

“From day one, we have been committed to developing a high-quality, state-of-the-art gaming and entertainment complex, and through this impressive lineup of restaurants and amenities, we continue to deliver on that promise,” said Roy Corby, general manager of Rivers Casino Portsmouth. “Each of these exciting new venues comes with career opportunities for job seekers — and we’re recruiting and hiring right now.”

Rivers Casino Portsmouth is one of four casinos being constructed in Virginia. The state legalized commercial gambling and casino opportunities for cities that have faced dire economic conditions in recent years.

Along with Portsmouth, casinos are in the works in Norfolk, Danville, and Bristol. Richmond voters, the fifth and only qualifying city, rejected its casino opportunity through a 2022 local ballot referendum.

Construction Schedule Uninterrupted

Rush Street officials said yesterday that construction remains on schedule, along with announcing the restaurants that will complement the casino when it opens. Despite supply chain and labor issues that continue to linger because of the pandemic, Rivers Casino Portsmouth is progressing towards an early 2023 opening.

The resort is expected to employ more than 1,300 permanent workers. Many of those positions will be customer-facing jobs on the casino floor.

We have over 200 people going through dealer school right now,” Corby told the media yesterday. “We have several hundred people currently in the application pipeline, and each job fair brings out more people.”

The next Rivers Casino Portsmouth job fair is set for this Saturday, August 20. The hiring event will occur at the Holiday Inn Virginia Beach Conference Center.

Rivers Portsmouth is being constructed adjacent to Tidewater Community College’s Portsmouth campus on 57 acres of land.

No Temporary Casino

Rivers Casino Portsmouth has no plans to seek a state gaming license to operate a temporary casino. Virginia’s gaming law allows approved casino projects to operate temporary gaming spaces amid construction for up to one year.

The developers of Norfolk’s $500 million casino are also proceeding with a temporary gaming space. Known as HeadWaters Resort and Casino, the permanent Norfolk resort isn’t expected to open until late 2023 or early 2024.