The Bristol Casino in Virginia, US, set to become the Hard Rock Casino, has marked a historic milestone by surpassing its previous revenue records in March, with an astonishing $16.3 million in adjusted gross income. This figure, released in a report by the Virginia Lottery, represents a remarkable 9% increase over its previous best month and a staggering 18% surge compared to March 2023.

Bristol Casino Breaks Records in Slot and Table Game Revenue

The Bristol Casino’s success is attributed to robust performances in both major categories of gaming. Slot machine revenue soared to unprecedented heights, crossing the $13 million mark for the first time ever, standing at $13,009,482, surpassing the previous record set in December 2023. 

Meanwhile, table games also witnessed a significant surge, generating over $3 million in revenue for the first time, reaching $3,260,614, outperforming the previous high recorded in September 2022.

Comparing the March 2024 figures to those of the same period in 2023, the adjusted gross income experienced an impressive 18% hike. Moreover, it exceeded the average monthly revenue over the 20 months the casino has operated at its temporary location by a remarkable 19%.

Hard Rock officials had previously announced plans to unveil the newly constructed Bristol casino, alongside a 300-room hotel scheduled to open on-site by year-end. However, the opening timeline for Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Bristol was adjusted in February, with construction costs soaring to over $550 million, significantly higher than the initial projections of $300 million in 2019 and $400 million in 2022. 

Despite the budget increase, construction remains on track for a summer opening, aiming for July.

Bristol Casino’s Revenue Surge Fuels Over $976,000 Payout to RIC

The significant revenue surge for The Bristol Casino translated into a substantial payout of $976,206 to the Regional Improvement Commission (RIC), representing over a dozen local governments in Southwest Virginia. The casino, taxed at 18%, allocates one-third of this amount to the RIC. Legislation mandates that these funds be utilized by local governments within the RIC to enhance transportation, education, and public safety infrastructure.

The RIC encompasses counties such as Lee, Scott, Wise, Dickenson, Buchanan, Russell, Washington, Smyth, Tazewell, Grayson, Bland, and Wythe, along with the cities of Bristol and Norton. Notably, the funds are distributed evenly among the 14 local governments, rather than being allocated on a population-adjusted basis.

The cumulative funds received by these localities now exceed an impressive $16.7 million, reflecting the significant economic impact generated by the Bristol Casino.With its groundbreaking revenue performance and ongoing expansion plans, the Bristol Casino continues to solidify its position as a key player in Virginia’s gaming landscape, promising further growth and prosperity for the region.

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As the NFL season gears up for kick-off, ESPN’s sports betting news and information program, Daily Wager, is making a major transition back to the East Coast. The show, which initially premiered on March 11, 2019, in Bristol, Connecticut, is returning to its roots and will commence broadcasting from ESPN’s headquarters on September 7, according to an announcement made by the network.

Relocation of Daily Wager Show Coincides with ESPN’s Strategic Partnership

With the impending launch of ESPN BET, a network-branded online sportsbook, the decision has been made to relocate the Daily Wager show from the Las Vegas Strip back to Bristol. ESPN recently entered into a transformative sports betting partnership with PENN Entertainment, aiming to unveil ESPN BET sometime this fall, potentially around Thanksgiving Day, as revealed by PENN Entertainment CEO Jay Snowden during an analyst conference call.

This shift in focus is leading to the unwinding of ESPN’s marketing affiliations with industry giants Caesars Entertainment and DraftKings, according to sources familiar with the matter. The Linq Promenade, where Daily Wager had its Vegas home, falls under the umbrella of Caesars Entertainment and was inaugurated by the casino conglomerate back in 2013.

Acknowledging the change, Scott Clark, VP of ESPN’s fantasy and sports betting content, expressed gratitude for the time spent in Las Vegas, stating: “ESPN created some great content and incredible memories during our time at the Las Vegas studio. With our new ESPN BET deal set to launch this fall, we felt it was best to return to our headquarters.”

Clark further extended his gratitude to everyone ESPN had collaborated with at Caesars Entertainment throughout the previous years and conveyed his best wishes for their future endeavors. 

New Schedule for Daily Wager Show Unveiled Alongside On-Air Shifts

Coinciding with the relocation, ESPN unveiled a fresh weekly schedule for Daily Wager. The show will air on ESPN2 from Thursday through Monday, with Tuesday and Wednesday marked as days off. Additionally, a new Saturday morning edition is being introduced at 11 AM ET to provide viewers with insights into the weekend’s football matchups.

This move follows ESPN laying off approximately 20 on-air personalities in July, including sports betting analyst Doug Kezirian and boxing analyst Andre Ward. These cuts, which also affected prominent figures like Jeff Van Gundy, Vince Carter, and Todd McShay, were confirmed following speculation about the reasons behind the move, including the impact of newcomer Pat McAfee and the network’s focus on managing costs during contract renewals.

With the NFL season’s commencement on September 7, marked by a face-off between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Detroit Lions, the network’s restructured lineup is poised to offer fans an enhanced sports betting experience. ESPN’s extensive sports coverage also includes the upcoming regular seasons of the NBA and NHL, both set to debut later this fall.

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On Friday, Bristol Casino in Virginia announced that it had completed an expansion which includes a new party area and extra gaming options.

The casino’s statement revealed that it had added almost 30 new slot machines and eight table games to its gaming floor. In total, the venue will have 890 slots and 29 table games for customers to enjoy.

Virginia’s first casino – a temporary site while Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Bristol is under construction – also launched a new ‘Party Pit’ amenity located by the Bristol Bar, across from the venue’s sportsbook. Four blackjack tables with a minimum wagering condition of $15 will be assigned to this space.

The Party Pit will be accessible to customers from Thursday to Sunday, providing a space to enjoy live music and watch sports games on wide-screened televisions.

Speaking on the new additions, Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Bristol’s President, Allie Evangelista, revealed that the company was excited about the new additions.

“We are thrilled to offer new slots and table games for our guests. With these additions, the casino now has 890 slots and 29 tables, along with our sportsbook,” Evangelista said.

“The new Dragon Link and Sega Sammy machines continue our commitment to add those machines that we know are most popular with our players.”

The expansion includes eight new Dragon Link jackpot slots and two new blackjack tables, which were placed in the high-limit area. The non-smoking space also received a Mississippi Stud table and a blackjack table, while 20 new Sega Sammy slot machines were set up on the casino’s gaming floor.

The temporary Bristol Casino site will continue operating until 2024, when the permanent Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Bristol is set to open. After the permanent casino is launched, Bristol Casino will be made into a smoke-free gambling space on the property.

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