Hard Rock Bristol, which is also called Virginia’s “first casino,” has announced the expansion of its temporary gaming space inside the former Bristol Mall for the inclusion of additional slot machines and budget-friendly blackjack tables.

Bristol is one of Virginia’s five cities that were authorized in 2020 to accommodate a casino resort through a local vote. Bristol voters approved Hard Rock International’s proposed casino resort in the same year, with more than 70 per cent of local voters backing the gambling-friendly property.

While Hard Rock’s permanent casino resort, which is expected to cost more than $400 million, is still under construction, the company is already operating a temporary facility inside the former Bristol Mall. It may be noted here that the state’s 2020 gaming law allows licensed operators to construct and operate a temporary gaming facility until the permanent facility becomes operational. The temporary gaming facility opened its doors on 8th of July last year.

Hard Rock opened its temporary casino inside what was once a department store of Belk. The gaming floor of the temporary casino got expanded with the addition of nearly three dozen new slot terminals and some gaming tables.

In addition, the facility has been equipped with the so-called “Party Pit” adjacent to the gaming bar and sports lounge. The “Party Pit” features a total of four blackjack tables with lower minimums. To be more specific, minimums at the newly-added blackjack tables have been set at $15, which is considerably lower than other tables’ typical minimum of $25.

Speaking on the topic, Hard Rock Bristol President Allie Evangelista said, “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 explained that the list of new slot offerings at the temporary facility includes Dragon Link terminals and machines manufactured & supplied by Japanese gaming equipment manufacturer Sega Sammy. New slot titles include Dragon Power, Resident Evil: Vendetta, and Egyptian Magic.

In the first eight months of its operation, Hard Rock Bristol attracted a large number of gaming and hospitality enthusiasts, which enabled the operator to generate strong gross gaming revenues (GGRs). For the months of January and February, the operator reported GGRs of $13.4 million and $13.7 million, respectively. The highest GGR of $14.9 million was generated in December 2022.