Legendary NBA rebounder Dennis Rodman will place the ceremonial first bet when the Caesars Virgiia casino resort opens on December 17. [Image: Shutterstock.com]

Caesars Virginia is opening for business on December 17, five days later than the planned date. Caesars Entertainment revealed that NBA legend Dennis Rodman will place a ceremonial first bet at the retail sportsbook.

Rodman will be the master of ceremonies for the parade

Another aspect of the launch festivities is a parade of supercars and race cars around the streets of Danville ahead of the noon opening. Five-time NBA champion Rodman will be the master of ceremonies for the parade.

A drone show and fireworks display will then entertain guests that night. The casino’s gaming floor will offer 1,400 slot machines and more than 80 table games.

Talking about the new facility, Caesars Virginia General Manager and Senior Vice President Chris Albrecht said: “We know that there is tremendous excitement for our grand opening, and we appreciate everyone’s patience with this short delay.”

Development for the $750m project started in August 2022, with a temporary casino opening in the parking lot in May 2023 to allow locals to gamble before the permanent facility was ready.

The property’s location is close to the state line with North Carolina, making it accessible to people across the border in major cities like Raleigh and Durham.