Rivers Casino Portsmouth has entered into a settlement agreement with the Virginia Lottery Commission to pay the commission $275,000 that will be headed to the commonwealth’s general fund.
The Lottery oversees gaming in the state including sports betting in Virginia.
The settlement agreement, which was signed by a Rivers Portsmouth Gaming executive and by a Virginia Lottery official in March, came after the lottery informed the casino that it had “identified alleged violations with respect to underage and voluntary excluded persons, licensing requirements relating to slot machines, and unauthorized games in play.”
The settlement agreement further indicated that Rivers casino has “fully cooperated with the lottery’s inquiry … (and) has taken corrective measures, and has developed a corrective action plan to ensure future compliance” with gaming laws and regulations.
Lottery’s Allegations Against Casino
Based on a review of activity at the Rivers Casino Portsmouth, the lottery informed the casino of the lottery’s allegations that the “casino directly, and through its contractors and agents, had violated certain provisions of the Casino Gaming Law and the lottery’s related regulations prior to and after the casino’s opening on Jan. 23.”
The settlement agreement was reached as a means of settling the allegations to avoid the “potential expense and inconvenience of a formal hearing,” according to the agreement.
The agreement also specified that it did not constitute “an admission, or a denial by either party that a violation of law or regulation has occurred.”
Portsmouth Home of Second Virginia Casino
When it opened in January, Rivers Casino Portsmouth – home of the BetRivers Virginia Sportsbook – was the second casino to open in Virginia. The first was Hard Rock Bristol, which opened a temporary facility in July 2022 with plans for a permanent casino in 2024.
The commonwealth’s third casino, Caesars Virginia in Danville, is scheduled to open a temporary facility on May 15. The permanent Caesars Virginia is also scheduled to open in 2024.
In addition to land-based casinos, a few of which offer retail wagering on sports, there are also Virginia sports betting apps, which started in January 2021.
