13News Now spoke with a player on the gaming floor who said the arrival of the casino has deeper implications for the community.
Portsmouth, Virginia — Just days away from the grand opening of Rivers Casino Portsmouth, victory is already near.
Thousands of guests were submitted to the $340 million facility for the first time Thursday night.
This is the first of two installments of an invitation-only charity test night, allowing casino executives to ensure gaming equipment is partially functional while donating proceeds to local charities. .
13News Now spent about an hour on the game floor talking with players, charity partners, representatives and more. The atmosphere was exciting and the energy was kept high among the large crowd.
“It’s exciting, it’s atmospheric,” said Hampton Roads resident Tammy Boone.
The casino is Virginia’s first full-service permanent casino and a place for gaming, dining and entertainment.
“We have been waiting for this for a very, very, very long time. Cole Wigfall said, “We love Rivers Casino coming here to Portsmouth. There’s a magical air going on right now.”
“Now you don’t have to leave town and go to Dover and Foxwoods and all that,” added Boone. “So this is great for Portsmouth.”
It’s also great for three local non-profits that can benefit from a series of exclusive, invite-only test run nights. The casino will host its first event on Thursday night, followed by another on Saturday.
Of course, the player collects the winnings. However, test event proceeds will be donated to the following organizations:
“This helps us support military personnel and their families throughout the region. We operate six centers here in the Hampton Roads and Central Virginia areas, and many offsite missions throughout the year. It runs programming and events, said Kenny Miller, USO Hampton Roads and Central Virginia Center Operations and Program Manager.
“We are actually restoring the building for our free Head Start program, which is going towards that restoration,” said Renyatta Banks, executive director of the Wesley Community Service Center. “This is awesome. It’s like going to Disney after winning the Super Bowl.”
“We are part of a community that really welcomes us and does everything we can to accommodate them.
Kobe reflected on his journey so far.
“408 days ago it was me, Shovel and four others. I was the only employee at Rivers Casino Portsmouth,” he said.
About 1,100 employees are currently participating, Corby told 13News Now. He hopes hundreds more will join the team, but said he’s on track for a successful grand opening to the general public.
“on Monday [January 23]everyone can come out and everything opens up,” Kobe said.
The multi-million dollar facility includes 1,448 slot machines, 57 tables, 24 poker tables and several restaurants and bars, Kobe explained.
At its heart, Kobe advertised, is the largest sportsbook in the state.
Originally scheduled to open earlier this month, the casino has delayed its opening so it can spend more time testing its equipment.
But with just days to go until the grand opening, Portsmouth Mayor Shannon Glover called it all a “dream come true.”
“This place is everything we thought it would be and more,” he said. “We can continue to attract people to come to our city and see all that we have to offer.”
13News Now anchor David Allan recently visited Rivers Casino Pittsburgh, the model for what debuted on Victory Boulevard.
See what we found in our exclusive Rivers Casino Portsmouth: Betting Big. You can see it below.
