Boyd Gaming is constructing a $750 million casino resort in Norfolk, Virginia, by the Elizabeth River. The goal is to deliver essential tax revenue to the Virginia city and create 850 permanent jobs, generating a local economic impact of $2.9 billion in the initial 10 years of operation, along with various community benefits such as support for the city’s state university. 

En septiembre de 2024, Boyd, con sede en Las Vegas, se convirtió en el socio de desarrollo del casino de la Tribu India Pamunkey en Norfolk. The long-delayed project, approved by city residents via a local referendum in November 2020, had a ceremonial groundbreaking last October where Boyd revealed a $100K donation to Norfolk State University. Boyd is additionally contributing to the traditionally black public institution. 

On Friday, Boyd Gaming committed $1 million to NSU to create the Boyd Gaming Department of Tourism & Hospitality Management.

"Since we broke ground on our Norfolk casino resort project last year, Boyd Gaming and the Pamunkey Tribe have been committed to building a mutually beneficial partnership with our neighbors at Norfolk State University,” said Ron Bailey, vice president and general manager of the Norfolk casino. “We are honored today to further expand our partnership with our $1 million pledge. We look forward to working closely with our friends and partners at NSU in the years ahead as we build a best-in-class team and create exciting career opportunities for Norfolk State graduates at our resort.”

Norfolk State presently provides a bachelor's degree in tourism and hospitality management via its School of Business. The NSU website states that the entirely online program “employs theory-driven teaching and hands-on experience” to prepare and instruct students for management positions in international hospitality. 

Norfolk Gambling Hall 

Boyd Gaming is funding the $750 million casino project in collaboration with the Pamunkey Indian Tribe, which Norfolk officials selected as its gaming developer following state legislation that permitted the Hampton Roads city to have a casino. At that moment, the tribe was beginning to establish a tribal casino on its sovereign land located about 60 miles north of Norfolk in King William County with billionaire Jon Yarbrough. 

Yarbrough transferred his ownership in the Norfolk casino to Boyd for an undisclosed amount. Boyd and the tribe state that the upcoming casino will include a 200-room hotel, eight dining establishments and bars, a gym and spa, 13,000 square feet of conference space, a 45,000-square-foot rooftop deck, a parking garage with 1,000 spots, and a gaming area featuring 1,500 slot machines, 50 live dealer tables, and a sportsbook. 

The typical yearly salary for the resort's 850 full-time staff will be close to $69K, which is greater than the city's median household income of $64K. Boyd states it will prioritize hiring women, minorities, and veterans. Local businesses and services will be given priority for vendor requirements. 

The permanent casino is expected to launch in late 2027. A temporary gaming venue is anticipated to launch by the end of 2025. 

Old Dominion, Tidewater Advantage 

Boyd Gaming’s $1 million commitment to Norfolk State comes after $50K donations to Old Dominion University and Tidewater Community College. Tidewater has a campus in Norfolk and a Portsmouth site next to Rivers Casino. 

Bailey stated that the $50,000 grants are intended to assist schools in cultivating skilled workers prepared to deliver outstanding service to future visitors of the Norfolk casino. 

“It is so important for us to work with local colleges and universities to ensure our workforce is ready to deliver a truly best-in-class experience when we open,” Bailey said.