Virginia’s First Casino Welcomed 1.2 Million Visitors,
Paid Out $92 Million in Jackpots During First Year
BRISTOL, Va. (June 29, 2023) – One year and 1.2 million visitors later, ‘Bristol Casino — Future Home of Hard Rock’ is ready to celebrate its first anniversary. Virginia’s inaugural casino first opened its doors to guests on July 8, 2022.
“Our first year has been a great success,” said President Allie Evangelista of Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Bristol. “We have strived to create an unparalleled experience for our guests, who have won more than $92 million in jackpots. As we embark on our second year, we remain committed to Hard Rock’s guiding principle, ‘Love All — Serve All.’”
The anniversary festivities will begin on Friday, July 7, with a special anniversary T-shirt giveaway from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. This event is invitational based on play. However, guests can qualify for the giveaway by earning 75 tier credits on the day of the promotion.
The celebration continues Saturday, July 8, with a $100,000 giveaway for Unity™ Members. To enter, guests must swipe their card at any promotional kiosk, then drop their entry in the drum located at center stage of the promotional area. Entries will be accepted from 10 a.m. until 9:59 p.m. Each hour from noon to 9 p.m., three guests will win a $2,500 free slot or table play. A drawing for one $25,000 winner will take place at 10 p.m.
“The giveaway is our way of rewarding guests for their loyalty and saying ‘thank you’ to them for being part of our journey,” Evangelista said. “We look forward to welcoming another million — and more — guests to Bristol.”
In typical Hard Rock fashion, the casino will offer top-notch entertainment on July 8. DJ Jessie D will take the stage at 2 p.m., followed by Appalachian rock band Tuatha Dea at 4:30 p.m. Grammy award-winning extreme cellist Dave Eggar & Friends will perform at 7 p.m., and the popular cover band The Bachelor Boys will close out the evening’s entertainment at 10 p.m.
The casino expanded its gaming options during its first year of operation, adding more than 60 slot machines and eight table games. Now featuring more than 900 slot machines, 29 table games and a sportsbook, the casino paid nearly $26 million in taxes to the commonwealth of Virginia and donated approximately $450,000 to local organizations.
The one-year anniversary also signifies the halfway mark toward the highly anticipated opening of the permanent Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Bristol.
“As we begin our second year in Southwest Virginia, we are as excited as ever to welcome guests from all over the world to our permanent casino next summer,” Evangelista said. “We plan to build on the success of our first year and be a premier entertainment destination for years to come.”
For more information about ‘Bristol Casino — Future Home of Hard Rock,’ visit https://www.hardrockhotelcasinobristol.com/. For more information about the $100,000 giveaway on July 8, visit https://www.hardrockhotelcasinobristol.com/promotions/$100k-anniversary-drawing.
July Entertainment Calendar
Upcoming performance dates and times include:
Thursday, July 6
Bristol Bar: 8 p.m. – Mac Arnold
Friday, July 7 – One-Year Anniversary Celebration
Casino Floor: 8 p.m. – DJ Stacie
Bristol Bar: 8:30 p.m. – Craig Street Ramblers
Bristol Bar 11 p.m. – Pretty Tied Up – Guns ‘N Roses Tribute Band
Saturday, July 8 – One-Year Anniversary Celebration
Bristol Bar: 2 p.m. – DJ Jessie D
Bristol Bar: 4:30 p.m. – Tuatha Dea
Bristol Bar: 7 p.m. – Dave Eggar & Friends
Bristol Bar: 10 p.m. – The Bachelor Boys
Friday, July 14
Bristol Bar: 8 p.m. – Shake It Like a Caveman
Casino Floor: 8 p.m. – DJ Stacie
Bristol Bar: 10:30 p.m. – Andrew Scotchie
Saturday, July 15
Bristol Bar: 8 p.m. – Ali Randolph
Bristol Bar: 11 p.m. – Cash Crop
Thursday, July 20
Bristol Bar: 8 p.m. – Oak Hill Drifters
Friday, July 21
Casino Floor: 8 p.m. – DJ Stacie
Bristol Bar: 8 p.m. – Marques Puckett & 8 Second Ride
Saturday, July 22
Bristol Bar: 8 p.m. – BoomBox All ’80s Band
Bristol Bar: 11 p.m. – Mississippi East
Thursday, July 27
Bristol Bar: 8 p.m. – Into the Fog
Friday, July 28
Bristol Bar: 8 p.m. – The Great Big Hug
Saturday, July 29
Bristol Bar: 8 p.m. – The Kindest People
Bristol Bar: 10:30 p.m. – Dusty Leigh Huston