Virginia will soon have its second dedicated poker room at a land-based casino.
Construction of the poker room will start after November 14, the day that Hard Rock Casino Bristol is scheduled to open its doors for the first time. It’s expected that the temporary casino that has served Bristol since July 2022 will close at around the same time.
Hard Rock International COO Jon Lucas told WJHL-TV in Johnson City, Tennessee, that the company was “thrilled” to be opening the permanent facility, built on the site of the former Bristol Mall. The doors will open at Noon.
“Hard Rock’s rich history fits perfectly with Bristol’s distinction as the 'Birthplace of Country Music,’” Lucas told the station. “Both the Hard Rock brand and the new hotel and casino are rooted in great music.”
Allie Evangelista, president of Hard Rock Casino Bristol, told WJHL that construction of the poker room would begin after the facility opened should be completed in January 2025. She said the poker room would be located in a non-smoking area of the casino.
Second Dedicated Poker Room in Virginia
When the poker room at Hard Rock Casino Bristol opens, it will be the second place in the state to offer live poker in Virginia.
It will also be the first poker room in Bristol. The temporary casino that opened in July 2022, Bristol Casino, did not have a poker room.
Whether Hard Rock ultimately opens the second or third dedicated poker room in Virginia remains to be seen. That’s because another casino under construction in Danville, Caesars Virginia, is scheduled to open in December and will also have a poker room.
In an exclusive, Joe Woloszyn, poker manager for Hard Rock Casino Bristol, told pokerfuse that the opening of the poker room “is being met with great anticipation.
“The surrounding area is home to many poker players without a close-by location for casino poker,” Woloszyn said. “Guests and team members alike have been excited and ready for a friendly, fun, and professional poker experience since the Bristol Casino opened its doors more than two years ago.”
Woloszyn said the new poker room at Hard Rock Casino Bristol will have 14 tables and that the casino plans to hold poker tournaments throughout the week.
The facility also features adjacent space that could hold more tables.
“As the poker business grows in the Tri-Cities area, there may be opportunities to host larger events,” Woloszyn said. “Hard Rock Bristol has space to host many events, including larger poker tournaments.”
When asked if any poker pros would be on hand for the opening, Woloszyn said that “because of the future date of poker at Hard Rock Bristol, the planning for poker pros is still in progress.”
Bristol is a city that straddles the Tennessee-Virginia border. Hard Rock Casino Bristol is not far from the state line, and will certainly draw players from both sides — but more are expected to come from Tennessee because there are no casinos in the Volunteer State.
Hard Rock Casino Bristol has easy access to I-81, is about midway between Knoxville and Roanoke, and is just a few hours from both Nashville and Charlotte, making it an good location for Tennessee poker players.
The state’s first poker room opened at Rivers Casino Portsmouth in January 2023. It has 24 tables, which makes it the largest one in the state currently.
A fourth casino in the state is planned for Norfolk, where the Pamunkey Indian Tribe and Boyd Gaming plan to build a facility — it was formerly called HeadWaters Resort & Casino. Meanwhile, voters in Petersburg will decide whether to welcome the state’s fifth casino this November. If approved, Live! Casino & Hotel Virginia would be developed by The Cordish Companies.
The Norfolk and Petersburg casinos will very likely have dedicated poker rooms; casinos run by Boyd and Cordish in other states have them.
Poker Rooms at Virginia Casinos
| Casino | Tables |
|---|---|
| Rivers Casino Portsmouth | 24 |
| Hard Rock Casino Bristol | 14 |
| Caesars Virginia [1] | N/A |
| Live! Casino & Hotel Virginia [2] | N/A |
| Norfolk Casino Resort [3] | N/A |
Notes: [1] Under construction, opening in December. [2] Subject to voter approval. [3] Formerly HeadWaters Resort & Casino. No new name has been announced.
Virginia Doesn’t Have Online Poker Yet
Poker will be coming to Bristol, but real money online poker in Virginia is not yet available.
The state launched sports betting in April 2020. That same year, the General Assembly passed legislation allowing up to five land-based casinos, but they were subject to voter approval. Voters in Bristol, Danville, Norfolk, and Portsmouth approved casinos in their communities but Richmond voters said in 2021 and again in 2023. Petersburg will vote on a casino this November.
It’s unclear if or when regulated real money online poker would come to Virginia, but it should be noted that Cordish is opposed to igaming.
