The Pamunkey Indian Tribe of Virginia harbors an unwavering dedication to the establishment of a premier casino facility in Norfolk, along the beautiful Elizabeth River. The federally recognized Native American community, however, has proposed a need for an extension before its projected payment of $10 million to Norfolk City for the procurement of 13 acres of land—wherein lies the strategic site for the proposed gaming haven.
Despite its rather humble size—with not much more than a hundred members inhabiting its sovereign land near West Point on the banks of Pamunkey River—the tribe was preferred by the authorities as Norfolk’s casino developer in 2020. This stands testament to the fierce conviction the community has towards making the dream of a grand gaming resort, a reality.
The proposed casino’s provision of financial viability was ensured through a strategic collaboration with business tycoon Jon Yarbrough, who amassed his riches through his customized creations for the tribal gaming industry. With substantial financial support, the tribe managed to propose a $500 million casino to Norfolk’s residents, which was approved during the November 2020 polls with an outright majority.
However, the initial idea of constructing a temporary casino within the Harbor Park premises hit a roadblock given The state’s 2020 gaming law’s ruling. The law only permits temporary casinos to operate in the same location as the designated permanent casinos. As a result, the tribe and Yarbrough launched a new plan: The HeadWaters resort and casino would be built in two phases, with the gaming facility being the first to be established and the hotel and resort to follow suit. The Norfolk authorities, however, chose to stick to the initial plan of constructing the entire establishment at once. Hence, the tribe chose to delay the deadline to purchase the 13 acres of land to January 2025.
On another positive note, the Pamunkey Indian Tribe submitted its site plan to Norfolk City on October 20—a substantial step towards realizing their ambitious project.
Speaking on the progress, Pamunkey Chief Robert Gray declared, “We want to get this project up and running as soon as possible to start generating revenue for our Tribe, for the other recognized Virginia tribes that will benefit from this project, and for the City of Norfolk, its citizens, and the Commonwealth of Virginia.”
So if you are a fan of such exciting gaming prospects, and can’t wait until 2025, we suggest you visit our list of top online casinos for this month. Here at the West Island Blog, we cater to your gaming appetites, ensuring you have the best experience possible.
