The Virginia Lottery, in its role overseeing the state’s three casinos, discovered a number of violations by Rivers Casino Portsmouth.
That resulted in the casino being fined $545,000 in two settlement agreements.
Among other violations, the resort was penalized for allowing underage people on the casino floor, something it has been fined for in the past.
Rivers is currently the only permanent casino in Virginia
The Portsmouth casino, which opened in January 2023, was the first to be housed in a permanent facility after the Virginia General Assembly passed legislation in 2020 allowing cities to approve hosting casinos. In May, Rivers Casino Portsmouth generated nearly $27 million of the state’s approximately $62.75 million in casino revenue.
The other two casinos operating in the state, by Caesars in Danville and by Hard Rock in Bristol, are currently in temporary facilities. They are expected to move into permanent complexes by the end of the year. Virginia online casinos are still illegal, but sweepstakes and social casinos are legal to play online in the commonwealth.
Portsmouth recently honored the longtime local senator who filed the bill legalizing Virginia casinos. A street near the casino has been renamed after Sen. L. Louise Lucas.
Casino allowed underage patrons on gaming floor, Lottery says
According to the Virginian-Pilot, the casino’s most recent fines stem from various violations from August 2023 to May 2024. A September settlement for $40,000 involved “the presence of underaged individuals on the gaming floor in August.”
A May settlement, for $505,000, was a bit more wide-ranging. The Pilot reported that “there was again the presence of underaged individuals as well as voluntarily excluded persons in December and January.”
“Voluntarily excluded persons” refers to the state’s program for problem gambling, which, according to the Virginia Lottery, “allows people with a gambling problem to voluntarily exclude themselves from participating in certain legalized gambling in Virginia,” including casino gaming.
The Pilot article said Lottery officials also “cited a lack of controls over accounting and surveillance operations last July and again in February, and a lack of controls over revenue reporting and table game operations between September and January.”
Rivers General Manager Roy Corby said the casino has made changes in lieu of the fines.
“We take these matters very seriously and respect the decision of the Virginia Lottery. We have reviewed and revised procedures to help prevent recurrence.”
WTKR-TV’s coverage mentioned an acknowledgment from the Virginia Lottery that “Rivers has cooperated fully with the Lottery’s inquiry into these matters, has taken corrective measures, and has developed a corrective action plan to ensure future compliance with the Casino Gaming Law and its related regulations.”
Rivers was fined for same violation last year
It’s not the first time the casino has been in hot water for allowing underage people on the gaming floor.
The Virginia Lottery found the casino in violation of underage patronage laws during a March 2023 review. That resulted in a $275,000 fine.
News of the fines comes relatively close on the heels of another story involving the casino. In January, the trial phase began in the case of two former employees charged with embezzlement.
The defendants are accused of stealing nearly $14,000 from a cash box in July 2023. The allegations are supported by casino surveillance video footage.
