The Tysons casino plan is officially on hold.
In a major development for Fairfax County, Virginia lawmakers stopped the progress of a bill that could have brought a casino to the Tysons area. The subcommittee members voted to postpone a decision for 2025.
The proposed legislation, introduced by Senator Scott Surovell earlier this week, aimed to add Fairfax County to the list of localities eligible to host a casino. Although not explicitly stated, the bill pointed towards Tysons as the prime location due to its requirement for proximity to a Metro Silver Line station.
The House Appropriations Subcommittee decided not to proceed with the bill, effectively halting the casino plans for the rest of this year's legislative session. This marks the second consecutive year that efforts to establish a casino in Tysons have stalled.
Subcommittee Chooses To Pass On It
After the House subcommittee decided to "pass by for the day," leaving no chance for a vote before the session concludes, Senator Saddam Azlan Salim announced on his X account that the bill was effectively dead for this session:
SB982, the Tysons Casino Bill, has been effectively killed for the rest of this year's legislative session in a House subcommittee. I extend my thanks to the thousands of constituents who contacted me and other General Assembly members, sharing their positions on this matter. pic.twitter.com/6kzEWNl4aw
— Senator Saddam Azlan Salim (@SalimVASenate) February 12, 2025
Some detractors even deemed it a security threat.
This decision came despite the bill previously passing in the Virginia State Senate with a 24-16 vote.
Other Lawmakers Disappointed the Bill Is Dead
Senator Surovell, who represents parts of Fairfax County and co-sponsored the legislation, expressed his disappointment at the outcome. He told WUSA TV, "With the Trump administration moving aggressively to eliminate jobs in Northern Virginia, I am disappointed that the House Committee on Appropriations did not advance SB982 to bring thousands of union jobs to Fairfax County."
The bill had garnered support from two other Democratic senators and one Republican, reflecting a level of bipartisan interest in the potential economic benefits a casino could bring to the area.
The discussion about bringing a casino to Tysons remains on hold, as lawmakers turn their attention to other matters for the rest of the legislative session.
