Caesars Virginia has opened. What to know about the new casino just 90 mins. from Raleigh
The lights — it seems like there are a million of them — are on at the new Caesars Virginia, and the finished casino and hotel are welcoming guests.
Caesars Virginia is now the closest full-service gambling destination to Central and Eastern North Carolina, a 90-minute drive from Raleigh, Durham or Chapel Hill. Even from Charlotte, Danville is a little over 2 hours’ drive, compared to just over 3 hours to Harrah’s casino in Cherokee. (The Catawba Two Kings Casino, 45 minutes from Charlotte, is still operating in its temporary facility until the permanent one is finished in 2026.)
Here’s what you need to know about the new casino and hotel in Danville, Va.
Where is Caesars Virginia?
The hotel and casino are at 1100 W Main Street, Danville, Va., just off U.S. 29 Business.
It’s the site of the former Dan River Cotton Mills, founded in the 1880s. It was later renamed Dan River Inc. and at one time was the largest single-unit textile factory in the world. The three brick stacks that stand outside one of the hotel entrances are a mill relic and local landmark.
What is parking like at the casino?
Parking is free and is available on the casino site, across Main Street and across Bishop Road, with pedestrian crossings marked (since we’re gambling).
What are casino hours?
The casino is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
What does Caesars Virginia have?
At the opening on Tuesday, Dec. 17, local and corporate representatives celebrated the coming of Vegas to Danville, a riverside city just over the Virginia line from Caswell County, N.C.
A temporary casino has been operating on the site since May 2023 in a giant, climate-controlled tent while permanent facilities were under construction.
The new casino has 90,000 square feet of gaming space. That’s just a little smaller than the Raleigh Wegman’s store, but much noisier because it houses:
▪ Nearly 1,500 electronic slot machines
▪ 79 live-action table games, including Blackjack, Roulette and Baccarat
▪ 47 electronic table games for Blackjack, Roulette and Craps
▪ A World Series of Poker room for live games
▪ A Caesar’s Sportsbook counter
How much does it cost to stay at the hotel?
The hotel has 320 rooms (scaled back from the 500 originally planned), all with floor-to-ceiling windows, a lounge chair, over-sized TV and stone-and-glass decor in the bathroom. The public spaces of the hotel are glamorous, with marble and brushed brass trims and a reproduction of the statue of Julius Caesar Augustus in the lobby.
There is also a pool and a full-service spa at the hotel.
Room rates start around $300 and go to over $800 per night. Loyalty club members are eligible for discounts that bring prices down to around $200 to $600 per night.
Do you have to be a member of Caesars Rewards to gamble?
No, but signing up for the loyalty program is free at a counter in the casino, and membership comes with perks. The more you gamble, the faster the perks accrue, building toward free food in casino restaurants, room upgrades, rate discounts and other benefits.
What is there to eat at Caesars Virginia?
Restaurants at the hotel and casino include:
▪ Ramsay’s Kitchen, developed by chef and television personality Gordon Ramsay
▪ The 500 Block food hall, which has a made-to-order hamburger stand called Mill Burger
▪ The Garage, offering barbecued pork, smoked chicken and brisket
▪ Southern Slices, with fresh-made pizza
▪ Dan Dan Noodle, with soba and rice noodle dishes, pho and sushi . A noodle bowl and a soft drink for lunch came in at just under $25.
▪ Three Stacks, with a range of burgers, wraps, subs, salads and even a lobster slider
▪ Starbucks has a full-service shop in the hotel
There are several bars and lounges.
Are children allowed at Caesars Virginia?
No one under 19 years old is allowed to gamble or hang out on the gaming floor with someone who is gambling.
Is smoking allowed?
Yes, and as soon as guests were allowed in on Tuesday, some of them lit up.
The gaming floor is essentially one open space, and despite the high ceiling and beefed-up air-circulation system, if a gamer next to you is smoking, you’ll know it. Smokers also cluster outside the facility’s front door.
Is the casino accessible?
The casino is on the ground floor of the building, with handicap-accessible parking and wide doors. Most games have stools that can be moved out of the way for wheelchairs.
Restrooms are right off the gaming floor and fully accessible.
What to do if you don’t gamble, or you’ve spent your stake
If you need a break from the stimulation of the gaming floor, there is a big open room with scattered seating on the same floor but far enough from it that the sounds of the machines and the crowd fall away.
Outside the casino and hotel, the City of Danville has other attractions, including the Danville Science Center and the Danville Museum of Fine Arts and History. The city has a river walk and downtown, a short drive from the casino, has some quaint shops such as The Vintage Boutique on Union Street.
Through Dec. 23, the city has a holiday light show at Historic Ballou Park from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. nightly. Admission is $10 per car, $20 for vans and buses.
This story was originally published December 18, 2024 at 2:29 PM.
