Share
Editor’s Note: This story has been updated to include information about the need for more housing near the casino.
The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians has decided that if it isn’t broke, don’t fix it. On Wednesday, the Band announced an expansion of its partnership with Caesars into a new realm: Virginia casinos.
The Band will brand its future property in Danville a Caesars casino named Caesars Virginia. That will mean plenty of redemption opportunities for Virginians who have been accumulating rewards credits in the state.
Caesars casino set for Danville
Caesars and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians are well-acquainted. The two collaborate to operate Harrah’s-branded tribal casinos near Cherokee and Murphy, North Carolina. Now, their partnership stretches across the border into Virginia.
A Wednesday Virginia casino on the Band’s behalf. Construction crews plan to break ground on the property this week. The Band plans to open the facility in late 2024. When complete, visitors should have access to:
- 24 “electronic table games”
- 85 physical gaming tables
- 1,300 slot machines
- a Caesars-themed retail sportsbook
- a WSOP-branded poker room
The casino plans include many of the usual amenities, like convention space, a hotel, restaurants, a spa, and a theater.
Caesars is not new to Virginia, as its online sportsbook has been operating in the state since February of 2021. When Caesars Virginia opens, then, Virginians will be able to redeem their rewards credits in new ways.
Perks in the works for visitors to the Caesars casino in Virginia
Caesars’ loyalty program allows guests to turn online sports bets into perks at its brick-and-mortar casinos. For each $5 in potential profit on a wager, bettors get one rewards credit and one tier credit. There’s a limit of 10X the wager amount on that, however.
There are several ways to redeem those credits at a Caesars casino. Those include comped dining, free hotel nights, and free slot/table game play. Thus, Virginians have over two years to build those credits up before Caesars Virginia opens. For those who do so, they might be able to go all out on their first visit to the casino in Danville.
Some of those people might not be looking to simply visit Danville, however, and they will need a place to live. On Aug. 18, Chelsea King of ABC13 reported Danville Director of Economic Development and Tourism Corrie Bobe said a recent study indicates the city will need about 2,400 additional domiciles to accommodate an influx of people the casino should bring.
The city on the same day invited developers of potential housing to an event considering the options for new housing in Danville. Currently, all options are on the table, from single-family dwellings to mixed-use buildings.
It’s unclear how close any of those developments might be to the casino. Either way, it’s now certain what the casino’s branding will be when it opens.
