The Virginia Lottery Board has approved a facility operator’s license for the Hard Rock Bristol casino location. The temporary full-service casino will be in the former Bristol Mall.
The board issued the license to Hard Rock Bristol at the conclusion of an extensive background investigation and review of its application material.
This is Hard Rock’s first Virginia temporary casino location. Bristol Casino – Future Home of Hard Rock is scheduled to open on July 8 after a celebratory ceremony.
The temporary facility has 30,000 square feet of casino space available. It will feature nearly 900 gaming slots, 21 tables, an adjacent smoking sports lounge and a sportsbook that will provide various gaming options. The casino will also have a Hard Rock store, as well as non-smoking and high-limit gaming areas on its main floor.
Hard Rock CEO Jon Lucas said: “We are excited to open the casino and welcome guests. As Virginia’s first casino, Bristol Casino — Future Home of Hard Rock will be a wonderful addition to the Hard Rock global portfolio of dining, hotel and entertainment properties.
“I am pleased by the significant progress that Allie Evangelista and her team are making toward a July 8 grand opening celebration for Bristol.”
The Virginia Lottery Board will continue to be involved prior to the casino’s opening to ensure all requirements to open have been met.
Virginia Lottery Deputy Executive Director of Gaming Compliance Gina Smith commented: “We will be on-site at the casino over the next couple of months observing the receipt of gaming equipment, reviewing internal controls, and ensuring full compliance with the regulations.”
According to the lottery board, applications for three other casino in the Danville, Norfolk and Portsmouth areas are also pending approval.
