DANVILLE, Va. – Construction on Caesars Virginia will start later this year, with groundbreaking for the $500 million project expected in less than three months. Caesars Entertainment plans to break ground in December, bringing 900 construction jobs. The hope is to open the casino by the end of 2023, where an estimated 1,300 people will work.

The casino’s resort will include 500 rooms with amenities like a spa, a pool and a fitness center. The casino will have 1,400 games.

The casino is expected to be a huge boon to Danville’s economy. Estimates show the potential for $38 million in new tax revenue.

Final Artist renderings of the casino-resort complex were unveiled Thursday and incorporate the three iconic smokestacks that belched smoke over the mill town during the heyday of Dan River Mills, Inc.

The design  exceeds original expectations by increasing the original plan from 300 to 500 hotel rooms and its price tag going from $400-million to $500-million.

“Caesars Virginia will be an economic driver for the region, both as a tourist and entertainment draw and through the more than a thousand good-paying jobs the resort will create,” said Anthony Carano, President and Chief Operating Officer of Caesars Entertainment. “The people of Danville have entrusted us to build a world-class resort, and we look forward to proving that trust was well founded with an incredible resort worthy of the iconic Caesars brand.”

“Over the course of the last two years, myself, City Council and staff have taken great care to develop plans, alongside residents and Caesars Entertainment, to create a resort that will positively impact the community through new tax revenue, jobs, partnership opportunities with local businesses and tourism dollars,” said Danville Mayor Alonzo Jones, who also served as a co-chair on the “Caesars for Danville” campaign committee. “We are confident that Caesars Virginia will honor the old Dan River Mills’ Schoolfield site and become a pillar of pride for Danville and its people.”

Caesars Virginia plans include:

• $500 million premier destination resort casino – more than $100 million more than initially anticipated in the Development Agreement.
• 500 rooms inspired by local scenery – 200 more rooms than initially anticipated in the Development Agreement.
  • Spa
  • Pool
  • Fitness center
• Casino featuring:
  • More than 1,400 cutting-edge slot machines and table games
  • Caesars Sportsbook, providing a best-in-class sports betting experience
  • WSOP Poker Room, a live Poker Room named for and carrying the spirit of the legendary World Series of Poker with 25 tables
• 40,000 square feet of meeting and convention space with an entertainment venue that can accommodate up to 2,500 guests.
• New restaurant and bar concepts.
• 900 construction jobs.
• 1,300 new operational jobs.

The architect for Caesars Virginia is Marnell Companies.