The adjusted gaming revenue at the permanent Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Bristol totaled $20.64 million for December, its first full month of operation.
That’s a jump of 35%, or $7.23 million, since October, which was the last full month of operation for the temporary casino, according to monthly casino activity reports from the Virginia Lottery, which oversees casinos and gaming in the state.
The December total was the highest AGR, which is wagers minus winnings, so far for the Bristol casino since the temporary facility opened in July 2022.
The casino project was announced for the vacant Bristol Mall property in 2018. In July 2022, the temporary casino opened and operated while the permanent casino and hotel were under construction. It was the state’s first casino.
The $600 million permanent casino, featuring 1,408 slot machines and 63 table games, opened Nov. 14. For that month, the AGR was $18.07 million and included totals from both the permanent and temporary casinos.
In December, the Bristol casino reported $3.71 million in tax revenues. The amount includes $1.23 million to be shared among Bristol and 13 other localities in Southwest Virginia. While the money from the other two other casinos in the state goes solely to the host city, the revenue-sharing agreement was created for the Bristol casino because its founders wanted to share the wealth with the region.
Since the grand opening, the permanent casino has had 17,000 visitors, according to Allie Evangelista, president of Hard Rock Bristol.
“The grand opening of our permanent Hard Rock facility in November created tremendous excitement,” she said in a statement. “The momentum from that event continues to positively impact every aspect of the property, with guests enjoying our world-class Hard Rock gaming, dining, lodging and entertainment amenities and offerings. I am incredibly proud of our Hard Rock team members, whose hard work and hospitality are key to this success.”
The casino employs about 1,400 workers.
Among the three casinos operating in Virginia, the highest AGR for December was $28.32 million at Caesars Virginia in Danville, which opened its full, permanent casino on Dec. 17. Rivers Casino Portsmouth had an AGR of $25.93 million for the month.
The total AGR for all three casinos for December was $74.91 million.
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