F
ollowing the announcement that the Danville City Council approved a performance agreement with Caesars Entertainment for a proposed casino, company officials provided insights into the development that promises to bring millions of dollars and quality jobs to the region.
“Caesars Virginia will be a regional integrated resort that will include many opportunities for local residents as well as tourists,” the company revealed. The resort will have a full complement of restaurants including fine dining, fast-casual, and casual restaurants. The live entertainment venue will seat up to 2,500 people and, according to a Caesars’ spokesperson, the company plans to have amazing live musicians and other entertainers perform throughout the year. The hotel will have a full-service spa that will be open to non-hotel guests.
Besides bringing new entertainment to the area, Caesars Virginia will be an important part of the Danville economy. The resort will generate 900 construction jobs and 1,300 ongoing jobs. The average compensation including wages, tips, and benefits for a full-time employee will be $50,000 to $55,000.
“These aren’t just jobs; they are opportunities for careers with one of America’s premier companies that invests in its employees and is committed to a promote-from-within culture,” Caesars’ spokesperson added.
In addition to benefiting from the jobs and amenities associated with this project, the City of Danville will receive approximately $38 million each year in tax revenue that can be invested in local priorities, including education, public safety, and further economic development.
“We are fortunate to have substantial support in Danville,” company officials revealed.
Caesars’ campaign is led by four honorary co-chairs: Delegate Danny Marshall, Mayor Alonzo Jones, Averett University President Dr. Tiffany Franks, and Negril, Inc. Chief Operating Officer Tammy Wright-Warren, who is also an investor in the project.
The stage is now set in Danville for citizens to make the final vote in November on whether or not they’ll allow a casino in their city. Caesars said they’re ready to hit the ground running and hope to open by 2023.
“The efforts of our co-chairs are complemented by the energy and guidance of a very impressive and experienced 10-person steering committee of community and business leaders. We’re working together to ensure broad community support in Danville on the referendum,” officials added.
The company spokesperson also discussed the draft sports betting regulations, which were released for public comment by the Virginia Lottery in early August: “We are very encouraged by the sports betting enabling legislation as well as by the draft regulations, as they indicate that Virginia policymakers are focused on what we agree should be the major policy goals with respect to regulated sports betting: combating the illegal market, promoting the integrity of sports, protecting consumers, and generating important public revenue.”
The company has every expectation that the framework for sports betting in Virginia will achieve these objectives and, as the preferred casino developer for the City of Danville, Caesars Entertainment has “substantial and preferred consideration” for sports betting permit under the sports betting statute.
“We’re confident that the combination of the Caesars Sports mobile sports betting application, our marketing expertise, and our ability to leverage synergies with our brick-and-mortar casino once it is operating will mean our sports betting business in Virginia will be robust,” the spokesperson said. “Across the United States, sports betting and mobile gaming more broadly have demonstrated an ability to drive visitation to brick-and-mortar gaming facilities. We expect the same thing to happen in Virginia.”
The Virginia Lottery expects to begin reviewing applications for sports betting permits in October. “We are confident that Virginia consumers will be able to enjoy placing a legal sports bet within the Commonwealth in a regulated, transparent environment in early 2021.”
