Norfolk City Council Vote on Casino Ordinance

NORFOLK, Va. - On Sept. 10, Norfolk City Council voted to approve an ordinance regarding an amended and restated option to purchase agreement and development agreement with the Pamunkey Indian Tribe and Golden Eagle Consulting II, LLC.

Boyd Gaming Corporation will partner with the Tribe through Golden Eagle to develop a waterfront resort casino including a 200-room hotel, eight food and beverage outlets as well as a casino featuring 1,500 slots and 50 table games. The project also includes a spa and gym, meeting space and over 1,000 parking spaces. This single-phase project is expected to have a local economic output of $290 million annually with an estimated annual total project tax revenue of over $30 million after opening.

Mayor Kenneth Cooper Alexander, Ph.D., states, "This project will be a game-changer for our city, attracting visitors and residents alike, and driving significant private investment. It will generate millions in ongoing revenue, enabling us to invest in vital priorities. New short- and long-term jobs and workforce development opportunities will also arise, further boosting our local economy."

The construction of the resort casino will provide 1,722 direct jobs, 488 indirect jobs and 634 induced jobs with projected wages and salaries during construction totaling over $172 million. The construction phase will have an economic impact of over $510 million.

Permanent jobs when the casino opens will result in at least 584 direct jobs, 124 indirect jobs and 117 induced jobs resulting in projected annual wages and salaries of over $58 million. Direct jobs created by this project include, but are not limited to, casino general management and floor management, software engineers, information technology, cybersecurity, front end game developers and game design, web developers, financial accountants, human services, and marketing and public relations staff.

"I am excited for this significant milestone in our journey to bring a world-class casino and hotel resort to Norfolk. This project will not only enhance our tourism efforts, but also enable us to invest in key priorities that will benefit our community for years to come," states Mayor Kenneth Cooper Alexander, Ph.D.