PHOTOS: A look inside the temporary Petersburg casino

Sep 18, 2025 - 13:25

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PHOTOS: A look inside the temporary Petersburg casino

PETERSBURG, Va. (WRIC) -- Petersburg Fire Rescue and Emergency Services offered an inside look this week at the temporary casino that will open by the end of 2025.

Crews with Petersburg Fire Rescue and Emergency Services showcased the brand-new 75,000 square foot temporary casino off Brasfield Parkway behind Sheetz in a social post on Wednesday, Sept. 17, calling the walkthrough "energizing" and emphasizing public safety.

The fire department said the temporary casino will feature 900 slot machines and 33 table games, as well as restaurants, a casino bar and live entertainment.

Pending regulatory approvals, the temporary casino -- one of the biggest ventures in Petersburg history -- is expected to bring 500 new jobs, tourism and new opportunities to the city.

"Petersburg is stepping onto a bigger stage, and we couldn’t be more excited!" fire officials wrote in the post.

A look inside the temporary casino in Petersburg. (Photo: Petersburg Fire Rescue & Emergency Services)

This comes after the Petersburg community hit a milestone years in the making as leaders broke ground on the new $1.4 billion “Live! Casino and Resort" back in March. While the casino off Brasfield Parkway is only temporary, "Live!" Casino and Resort off Interstate 95 and Wagner Road is expected to open in 2027.

The March groundbreaking happened weeks after the city got its final zoning permits and months after 82% of residents voted in favor of the large-scale entertainment project.

As opening night for the temporary casino approaches, Petersburg Fire said its workers toured the facility while open and the blueprints were fresh, "mapping out every hallway, every access point, and every system," officials said.

The fire department said they have been adamant about pre-planning equating protection of the space, emphasizing their attention to the following:

Where fire alarms, sprinklers, and emergency systems are.
The layout of critical spaces before a single card is dealt.
Preparation so that if an emergency ever happens, our response will be fast, precise and safe, for you and for us.

"Petersburg, the casino will be ready soon. And so will we," the fire department said. "When those doors open, the lights come on and the games begin, you can trust your fire department is already trained, prepared and standing watch."

Dozens of job listings for the Petersburg casino are already up on the Live! website, including those for table game dealers.

"Live!" Casino and Resort is projected to generate $2.8 billion for the region and $240 million for Petersburg, in addition to 7,500 jobs.