Posted on: December 16, 2024, 10:23h.
Last updated on: December 16, 2024, 10:35h.
Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Bristol opened its permanent resort on November 14. The $515 million destination experienced strong visitation and play during its first two weeks as gaming revenue soared to new highs in the Southern Virginia town.
The Virginia Lottery Board, which oversees casinos and sports betting in the commonwealth, reported on Friday that Hard Rock Bristol won more than $18 million from players in November.
It’s the first time that Hard Rock Bristol reported monthly gross gaming revenue (GGR) upwards of $18 million. Hard Rock opened and ran a temporary gaming space at the former Bristol Mall location from April 2022 until Nov. 11, 2024.
Despite being three operating days short of a full November, Hard Rock’s grand opening excitement brought in throngs of eager players to check out the new property. The rush over the 17 days of Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Bristol being in operation led to unprecedented GGR in Bristol.
Strong Start
Hard Rock Bristol’s previous best month on record was $16.3 million set in March 2024.
Hard Rock’s opening four-day weekend, headlined by a performance by country music superstar Blake Shelton, saw 58K guests enter the casino’s doors. More than 100K people visited the integrated resort during the 17 days the permanent property was in business.
Hard Rock commanded steep rates for its 303 hotel rooms during the opening weekend shindig. Friday rates started at $599. With taxes and a $15 nightly resort fee, the total bill came to $741.52.
The lofty rates didn’t deter high rollers and Hard Rock’s faithful loyalty rewards members. The hotel was a sellout, and the casino’s 1,408 slot machines and 62 live dealer table games were bustling all weekend as a result.
For November, GGR from Hard Rock Bristol’s slots totaled $15.5 million. Tables accounted for nearly $2.6 million. The casino officially won $18,072,828.02.
Virginia’s two other casinos — Rivers Casino Portsmouth, a permanent casino, and Caesars Virginia, a temporary facility — respectively won $25.7 million and $19.7 million in November.
The Virginia Lottery Board will release sports betting revenue numbers next week.
Local Benefits
Virginia’s 2020 casino law designated cities in need of an economic renaissance with the possibility of welcoming a casino resort. Bristol, which straddles the Virginia-Tennessee border, is quickly seeing such benefits.
Hard Rock Bristol has hired more than 1,000 people on wages that exceed the average median income in Bristol. The casino also directs 6% of its monthly GGR to the local Bristol government. In November, that amounted to more than $1 million.
Bristol isn’t the only local town benefiting from the introduction of a casino.
Portsmouth has been collecting casino taxes since Rivers Casino opened in January 2023. Danville has too from a temporary casino operated by Caesars Entertainment since May 2023. Caesars Virginia will open its permanent facility, a $750 million destination on Tuesday, December 17.
Similar to Hard Rock Bristol, Caesars Virginia demanded lofty rates for its opening nights. Rates for the 320-room resort began at $499. Rates were later raised to $799 and then to $1,000 a night before taxes and a $35 nightly resort fee. The property is now sold out until Thursday.
