HAMPTON, Va. — Rosie’s Gaming Emporium in Hampton will soon be open 24/7.
The Colonial Downs Group, which owns Rosie’s, submitted an application to Hampton City Council members, requesting longer operating hours.
The Hampton location off Power Plant Parkway is currently open from 8 a.m. to 4 a.m. Council members made the unanimous decision Wednesday night to allow the business to stay open 24 hours a day.
Mayor Donnie Tuck calls the move beneficial for both the business and the city.
“We allowed them to go to 24/7. I think the other part of that is the competition from the casino in Portsmouth. I think that’s the reality of it," Mayor Tuck told 13News Now.
With the recent opening of Rivers Casino Portsmouth, along with the future Norfolk Headwaters Casino, Rosie’s Gaming Emporium is trying to keep up. In the application, leaders claim Rosie's at a "significant competitive disadvantage" as both casinos stay open all day.
In a presentation to council members, leaders with the gaming emporium said Rosie's security has met audit requirements, noting that in 2023 there was a decline in police calls between midnight and 4 a.m.
Despite a man getting assaulted and robbed as he left Rosie's in December, Mayor Tuck said part of the council's decision stemmed from better security measures at Rosie's.
“I think it’s a good corporate partner. It has contributed to at least one of the local civic leagues or neighborhood groups. That’s always a positive," Mayor Tuck said.
Some of Rosie’s customers told 13News Now they’re excited for the change. Others say it won’t make much of a difference.
“It didn’t really matter. Like I said, I go to Rivers. They’re just the same, if not better," said Gloucester resident Alexus Bailey.
“I think they’ll lose revenue by keeping it open 24 hours because normally around about 2 o’clock people are leaving anyway," said Hampton resident Bobby Warner.
A spokesperson for Rosie's said 24-hour operations will start in the near future after finalizing a staffing plan.
In a statement to 13News Now, Mary Harper, the general manager of Rosie's Hampton location, noted that Rosie's generates more than $2.5 million per year in annual tax revenue for the City of Hampton.