Residents of Fairfax County, particularly those in Tysons, have voiced strong opposition to the construction of a casino in Tysons, as revealed by a recent survey.
The poll, commissioned by the Tysons Stakeholders Alliance, found nearly 80% of Tysons voters disapprove of the casino project.
The opposition resonates across the county, with about two-thirds of Fairfax County voters expressing disapproval of the proposal currently under consideration by Virginia’s General Assembly.
SB982 Moves Onto Senate Finance & Appropriations Committee
This news comes on the heels of the full General Laws & Technology Committee decision to pass SB982, allowing Fairfax County voters to decide the fate on a casino project through a local ballot referendum.
The committee approved the measure in an 11-3 vote. It is now scheduled for review by the Senate Finance & Appropriations Committee tomorrow, where it could be advanced to the full Senate for consideration.
While SB982 does not explicitly name Fairfax County as a potential location, its description of land use closely aligns with Tysons, suggesting the area could be targeted for future development.
What Are The Biggest Apprehensions?
The survey highlights several concerns fueling the resistance.
Notably, nearly 80% of Fairfax County voters believe a casino would significantly worsen the region’s already congested traffic. Additionally, over 60% of Tysons voters fear the casino's proximity to defense, intelligence, and military personnel could pose a national security risk.
The results also indicate potential political repercussions for elected officials. A majority—65% of Tysons voters and 56% of voters countywide—said they are less likely to support a politician who backs the casino project. In contrast, only a small fraction—10% of Fairfax County voters and 8% of Tysons voters—expressed a greater likelihood of supporting a pro-casino official.
“We knew there was significant opposition to the proposed Tysons casino project from both Fairfax County and Tysons residents, and these results clearly confirm that,” said Paula Martino, president of the Tysons Stakeholders Alliance. “Virginia legislators should take note of this and respect the wishes of their constituents: we do not want this project in Tysons.”
The Tysons Stakeholders Alliance, a coalition of local residents and businesses, opposes the casino, arguing it would harm the community.
Second Opposition Group Fighting the Tysons Casino
A second group, called the “No Fairfax Casino Coalition,” is also opposing the casino plan. Members of the group attended last week’s meetings about the bill, traveling by chartered buses to provide public comment, and they plan to be present again tomorrow when the Senate Finance & Appropriations Committee resumes discussions.
The group intends to board another charter bus early in the morning to attend the meeting.
Virginia Online Casino Debate Tabled Until 2026
Last week, members of the Virginia Assembly decided not to move forward with the state’s first attempt to legalize online casinos. Sen. Mamie Locke’s proposal for online gambling will be postponed until 2026 to allow more time to study its economic impact.
For her, it’s not the end of the world because she can spend the rest of this year building support and getting the proposal ready for 2026.
But this could give those who oppose the casino in Tysons a little momentum.
Casinos Thriving In Other Parts of the State
If SB982 passes and amends the state code to create a sixth brick-and-mortar casino license in Virginia, it would join a lineup of strong revenue-generating casinos in Old Dominion.
The latest figures show that the revenue generated by Virginia’s casinos increased 32% in 2024 over the previous year.
In 2024, casinos in Bristol, Danville, and Portsmouth, Virginia, generated approximately $732.2 million in adjusted gaming revenues, which represents the total wagers minus winnings. This marks an increase from the $554.9 million generated in 2023.
More casinos are on the horizon. In November, Petersburg residents voted overwhelmingly in favor of a new casino in their city, while construction is already underway in Norfolk, where a waterfront casino is being built.
As the General Assembly reviews SB982, survey results clearly demonstrate the community’s strong opposition to the Tysons casino in Virginia’s largest employment hub. This fight is far from over.
