Boyd Gaming’s Temporary Norfolk Casino Project Nears Deadline

Las Vegas-based Boyd Gaming continues to expand its footprint with a temporary casino in Norfolk, Virginia, set to open its doors to the public next month. This is a prelude to the permanent facility slated to open in September 2027.

Critical Deadline Approaches

An all-important meeting of the Virginia Lottery Board will be held on Tuesday, October 29, 2025, to decide if the self-proclaimed Interim Gaming Hall will receive its license to operate in mid-November. The Golden Eagle Corporation II, LLC is a partnership between Boyd Gaming and the Pamunkey Indian Tribe, with the former replacing the initial developer, Tennessee investor Jon Yarbrough, last year.

This has been a long time in the making, with the voters passing the casino referendum in November 2020. The development had a five-year window to get licensed, and with that deadline looming, time is of the essence. The Interim Gaming Hall is scheduled to open by November 15, 2025, but its very existence hinges on the Virginia Lottery Board.

Temporary Site Location and Setup

A large tent structure located between Harbor Park and the Amtrak station in Norfolk is where the interim facility will operate, which is adjacent to the permanent site, currently under construction and set to open in either the third or fourth quarter of 2027.

The temporary site is a shadow of what the permanent site will entail and will house nearly 130 slot machines. However, the permanent facility is expected to increase that number to 1,500 slots and 50 table games, as well as boast eight restaurants and a 200-room hotel.

Khalid Jones, Executive Director of the Virginia Lottery, explained the significance of the meeting: “The final step is the Lottery Board votes and issues a license after a public hearing on the application review, one of which will happen next week.”

Boyd Spending Over and Above

The referendum stipulated that the permanent facility cost at least $300 million, but since Boyd Gaming has become involved, the company said it plans to make the casino a destination that will attract visitors from all over the nation. In order to do so, Boyd is spending an estimated $750 million to make it the crown jewel of the Norfolk area.

Legal Challenges to the Casino License

However, the project is not without its detractors. The Cordish Companies have challenged the license application, arguing that Norfolk violated state rules in 2024 by choosing Boyd Gaming to replace the previous developer.

Moreover, Councilwoman Andria McClellan was the only one opposed to the project, citing her concerns regarding smoking in the facility. “I really wish we could make it non-smoking, but legally we can’t require it,” said McClellan. The non-smoking clause was a dealbreaker for the developer, as eliminating it would prove too costly for both the operator and the city.

City Attorney Bernard Pishko did reveal that the property would be equipped with an air-filtration system that would comply with the Virginia Indoor Clean Air Act. The temporary casino must be finished by November 2025 to receive the Virginia State Lottery license.

Ron Bailey, Vice President and General Manager of the Norfolk casino, said, “We wouldn’t be involved with this project if we didn’t think we could get it across the finish line on time.”