Virginia Casino Pioneer Jim McGlothlin Dies, Coal Magnate Helped Bring Gaming to Commonwealth

Virginia Casino Pioneer Jim McGlothlin Dies, Coal Magnate Helped Bring Gaming to Commonwealth

Jim McGlothlin, a philanthropist and businessman from Virginia who helped introduce casinos to the commonwealth, passed away on Wednesday.  He was eighty-five.

 In the 1960s, McGlothlin started his legal practice in Buchanan County.  His wealth began amassing after he purchased a small coal firm at auction in 1970.

The United Company, a conglomerate located in Bristol that started out producing coal, was created by McGlothlin.  Over the years, it branched out into real estate development, which included building Virginia's first casino, oil and gas exploration, and investment management services.

McGlothlin had a key role in persuading state legislators to support casino gambling, working with his longtime friend Clyde Stacy of Par Ventures.  A law authorizing five casinos, including one designated for Bristol, was approved by the Virginia General Assembly in 2020.

The Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Bristol, a $515 million project, was presented to Bristol voters by McGlothlin and The United Company in collaboration with Hard Rock International.  Seventy-one percent of voters approved the project in a municipal referendum.

"It was a moonshot,” McGlothlin said last fall egarding bringing casinos to Virginia, a state that had historically opposed slot machines and table games.

With over 1,000 employees and a booming tourism industry in the city of Southwestern Virginia, Hard Rock Bristol has been a huge success.  The entire area is being lifted by the casino's gaming taxes.

"I bet if we did the referendum today, we’d get 90% support,” McGlothlin declared.

The Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Bristol is still primarily owned by The United Company.

Legend Passes Away

The illustrious legacy that McGlothlin leaves behind goes well beyond Hard Rock Bristol.  Being extraordinarily charitable, he organized charity golf events at The Olde Farm golf club, which he founded in 2000, to raise money for public schools.

He was the director of the James W. and Frances Gibson McGlothlin Foundation and The United Company Foundation.  He was a national trustee of the Medical College of Virginia and the First Tee.  He gave the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts tens of millions of dollars.  These are only a few of McGlothlin's charitable activities.

“Our hearts are heavy today. Jim McGlothlin’s legacy will forever be felt across Southwest Virginia and the entire Commonwealth,” said Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R).

“Alongside his wife, Fran, they used that success to dedicate their time and treasure to changing the lives of countless Virginians. Their commitment to the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts enriches the culture of our Commonwealth. Their support for the Mountain Mission School in Grundy provided a beacon of hope to generations of children. Their support for William & Mary and VCU Health enables students to reach their dreams and have a daily impact on patient care and medical training,” Youngkin added.

History of Hard Rock 

In July 2022, McGlothlin's Hard Rock inaugurated Virginia's first casino, making history.  The temporary gambling establishment debuted inside the closed Bristol Mall in what had been a Belk department store.

Last November, the permanent Hard Rock Bristol location opened.  The establishment features a 303-room hotel, 50 table games, 1,500 slot machines, and a Hard Rock Bet Sportsbook.

Country music icon Blake Shelton made his stage debut at the Hard Rock Live concert venue, which has 2,000 seats, a number of restaurants and bars, and an indoor-outdoor pool.