I have lots of good news in today's column, including record-breaking play and revenue at Bristol's casino, which results in much-needed money for 14 localities in Southwest Virginia due to a unique revenue-sharing agreement.
This column details the latest news tidbits and happenings in the towns, cities and counties in far Southwest Virginia. What's going on where you live this summer? Email me the details at susan@cardinalnews.org and include any photos and/or video you have.
Bristol's Hard Rock Casino had a record-breaking May
May was a record-breaking month for the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Bristol and was also a big month for casino gaming across the state.
The Bristol casino's gaming revenues totaled $24.18 million, the largest monthly total since the temporary casino opened in July 2022. It's the second month in a row that the casino set a record. In April, the casino had $23.37 million in gaming revenues.
Five casinos operate in Virginia: the Bristol casino, which was the state's first, plus Rivers Casino Portsmouth, Caesars Virginia in Danville, the Interim Gaming Hall Norfolk, and Live! Virginia in Petersburg.
During May, gaming revenues from Virginia casinos reached more than $108 million, the highest total since the Virginia Lottery, which oversees casinos and gaming in the state, started releasing a monthly casino activity report.Â
State law assesses a graduated tax on a casino's adjusted gaming revenue, or wagers minus winnings, and $19.5 million in taxes was paid to the Gaming Proceeds Fund in May. In most cases, those revenues go to the host cities, but the proceeds from the Hard Rock are split equally among Bristol and 13 other localities across the region under a revenue-sharing agreement.
Bristol's permanent casino opened in November 2024. Built at the old Bristol Mall property, the casino complex includes a hotel, concert space and eight restaurants. The casino features 1,327 slot games and 73 table games.
Appalachian Power installs new equipment in the national forests in Smyth County
Crews are installing new power poles and other electrical equipment in the Skulls Gap area of the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests in Smyth County to improve reliability for local customers, Appalachian Power announced this week.
The work is part of a three-phase power line relocation project that began earlier this year, according to a news release from the utility. No customer outages are expected while these improvements take place, and the work will happen if weather permits.
Electrical equipment located in heavily forested, mountainous terrain with limited access is being relocated to make it safer and easier for crews to access the equipment for repairs, helping to reduce the length of outages. It will also improve reliability in surrounding communities, Appalachian Power said.
Crews will be working along Whitetop Road in the Skulls Gap area. Momentary traffic stops will be coordinated by flaggers so the workers can safely complete the installations. In addition, the Skulls Gap Overlook parking lot near the truck runaway ramp on Whitetop Road will be closed from June 22-July 2.
Work will take place throughout the summer during daylight hours, and traffic flaggers will remain on site while the work is active along the roadway.
Raffle with $250,000 worth of prizes will raise money for Bristol's country music museum
More than $250,000 in cash and 49 big prizes — including a 2027 BMW X3 SUV and a seven-day Caribbean cruise — will be given away as part of the eighth annual Bristol Sessions Super Raffle, the Birthplace of Country Music announced this week.
The raffle is the BCM's largest fundraiser of the year, and the money raised goes to support programming and other expenses at the Birthplace of Country Music Museum.Â
Other prizes include a 2026 Transcend Travel Trailer, a 2026 Subaru Crosstrek and 32 cash prizes totaling $67,000. A total of 5,000 raffle tickets will be sold for $100 per ticket. Each ticket will have two raffle numbers, giving the ticket holder two chances to win. Winners don't have to be present.
Drawings for the prizes will take place at the museum from noon to 4 p.m. Sept. 13, the final day of the 25th annual Bristol Rhythm and Roots Reunion music festival. Tickets can be purchased online or at the museum. Visit the website for more information.
