There won’t be a casino built in Tysons, Virginia. At least not now.
A bill intended to permit the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors to place the issue on an upcoming ballot failed to pass the Senate Committee on Finance and Appropriations.
But this doesn’t come as a surprise. In February 2024, the Senate Committee on Finance and Appropriations voted 13-2 to hold over Virginia Sen. Dave Marsden’s Senate Bill 675 to the next legislative session, which begins Jan. 8.
The demise of SB675 is strictly a procedural matter. Technically, the appropriations committee had a November 18 deadline to carry over the bill to the 2025 legislative session, but that did not happen, leaving its future uncertain. Or is it?
Senate Bill 675 Gone, But Not Forgotten
Despite this setback, Sen. Marsden remains committed to advocating for the retail casino to be built in Tysons, also known as Tysons Corner.
The bill includes language stipulating that the casino must be built outside the Beltway, along the Silver Line, and within two miles of a regional enclosed mall. These specifications support Marsden's claim that the ideal location for the casino would be in Tysons.
Although the most recent Fairfax County bill died, it doesn’t mean another won’t reappear (in some form) in January.
If approved by the Virginia General Assembly and signed by Gov. Glenn Youngkin, SB675 would give the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors the authority to put a casino referendum in front of the people for a vote.
Fairfax County Location Would Add to Existing Virginia Casinos
Virginia already has casinos in Bristol, Portsmouth, Norfolk and Danville (opening December 12). A fifth is going to be built in Petersburg after Richmond residents voted twice to reject a casino in their part of the capital region. Voters approved the plan on election day.
A 2019 state gambling study identified Northern Virginia as the most financially promising location for a casino. This finding came about despite the area not being initially considered when lawmakers targeted five other cities (listed above) in Virginia for economic revitalization through gambling facilities.
The study also suggested that a casino in Northern Virginia could help retain gambling revenue within the state, preventing it from flowing to the MGM National Harbor casino resort in Maryland.
Supporters Say Tysons Casino Would Create Jobs
Casino supporters claim that the project will add variety to the county's revenue sources and generate 5,000 union jobs. They also say it will increase the availability of workforce housing in the Tysons area.
The plan involves creating a 4 million-square-foot entertainment district in Tysons that will have a luxury hotel with a gaming floor, and other attractions, including:
- Convention center
- Concert venue
- Restaurants
- Shops
- Workforce housing
And all of this does not include the 200,000 square feet of the district that will be set aside for the casino.
Tysons Casino Opposition Fear Job Losses
At a community forum organized by the opposition group No Fairfax Casino, county supervisor Jimmy Bierman expressed concerns that a casino might negatively impact local businesses. He argued that a casino could conflict with the objectives of the Tysons Comprehensive Plan and potentially make the area less appealing to the business community.
At a No Casino Coalition meeting, State Senator Jennifer Boysko expressed her opposition to the casino, urging fellow lawmakers to abandon the proposal due to widespread constituent concerns. She noted fears among residents about potential increases in crime, gambling issues and the feeling of being ignored.
So, the debate will cool off, at least over the holiday season. But come January 8, the discussions are sure to resume again in Tysons.
