Petersburg casino now set to open January 2026, hiring ongoing

PETERSBURG, Va. (WRIC) -- The developers of the Live! Casino in Petersburg now have an updated estimation of when the temporary casino will be up and running.

The temporary facility, that will open before the permanent resort, is now planned to open in January 2026, according to a representative with Live! Casino and Hotel. Previous plans shared by the developers and city leaders had an opening date by the end of 2025.

Live! said the opening is pending regulatory approval. A search of the Virginia Lottery website shows Live! is not yet listed as an approved licensed casino operator.

The temporary casino is located on Wagner Road, and Live! says it will feature 900 slots, 33 table games and a bar and restaurant.

The temporary casino is promised to create around 500 permanent jobs. Hiring is still underway, and to do that Live! Casino is launching a new Recruitment Center.

The center will launch with a community career fair on Thursday, Nov. 6 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Those interested will be able to learn about and apply for positions and participate in on-site interviews.

The recruitment center is located at 1501 W. Washington Street, in the former Pepsi Warehouse. It will be open Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and will accept walk-ins for anyone interested in filling out an application.