The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors is actively opposing attempts by lawmakers in Richmond to establish a casino in the county. But the list of casinos in Virginia is one step closer to growing, and Tysons may be the city that’s on it.
That’s because state lawmakers are moving forward with a bill that would allow voters in the county to decide on the presence of slot machines, table games and sports betting in Northern Virginia.
The Virginia Senate passed Senate Bill 982 with a 24-16 vote. Although it doesn't specifically mention Fairfax County as a potential casino site, its land use description strongly matches the characteristics of Tysons, indicating that this area could be a target for future development.
The language of the bill includes this statement: “(Senate Bill 982) Adds Fairfax County to the list of localities eligible to host a casino in the Commonwealth and provides that any proposed site for a casino gaming establishment considered by Fairfax County shall be (i) located within one-quarter of a mile of an existing station on the Metro Silver Line, (ii) part of a coordinated mixed-use project development consisting of no less than 1.5 million square feet, (iii) within two miles of a regional enclosed mall containing not less than 1.5 million square feet of gross building area, and (iv) outside of the Interstate 495 Beltway”.
If it is approved, Tysons would join Bristol, Danville, Norfolk, Petersburg and Portsmouth as casino host cities in Virginia.
Bill Faces Strong Opposition From Many Sides
It’s somewhat surprising the bill has lasted this long, given the number of people who oppose it.
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, several township officials, former federal intelligence community members and numerous homeowners' associations have voiced strong opposition to the casino proposal.
Senator Saddam Azlan Salim, who represents District 37, including Tysons, released a statement after the bill's approval. He stated, “As the State Senator representing the proposed casino site, I cannot overstate the overwhelming opposition from my constituents. Over just the past two weeks, my office has received approximately 1,300 emails and calls on this issue— less than 0.008% of which were in support. I urge the House to reject this bill so we can focus on legislative priorities that truly serve our constituents."
On top of that, public polls indicate over 60% of county voters are against it — Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell, the bill’s main sponsor, argues that economic measures are necessary to address the county’s property tax issues.
The No Fairfax Casino Coalition warns that a casino would disrupt the community, while other leaders say it disregards local concerns and is "economic development in reverse." Additionally, others fear it could increase crime and traffic.
Proposed Entertainment District Near Tysons Corner
The proposed plan would build a Las Vegas-style casino and entertainment district near Tysons Corner Center mall. The project features a casino, several hotels, restaurants, a 6,000-seat concert venue, a 5,000-person conference center, an IMAX theater and housing units.
Supporters, including union workers who say it would create a “life-changing” amount of jobs, claim this development could generate hundreds of millions in new tax revenue for Fairfax County and over a billion dollars for the state.
Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell is spearheading Senate Bill 982. He argues the casino project would create economic opportunities and jobs while retaining gaming revenue within Virginia instead of losing it to neighboring states.
“When I read the paper about how much money Maryland was going to suck out of our commonwealth to pay for their schools — in both Maryland and [Prince George’s] County, I thought it was offensive, and I thought that we need to do something,” Surovell said.
Maryland just finished a record year for casino revenue. Virginia is also not on the list of states that legally offer online casinos. But there is a bill in the works.
Bill Has One More Vote To Get Through
The bill now moves to the House of Delegates. If they approve it and Governor Glenn Youngkin signs it, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors will decide whether to let voters decide on it in a ballot.
