In a 13-2 vote, the Virginia Senate Finance & Appropriations Committee recently rejected SB675, a bill that would have allowed residents of Tysons and the surrounding area to vote on a proposed casino in their area. The committee action does not remove Fairfax County from consideration as a casino host city; the measure could return in 2025. But it makes a 2024 referendum making Petersburg the state’s fifth casino host city more likely.
Casino referendums have passed in Bristol, Danville, Norfolk and Portsmouth. Voters in Richmond twice rejected a casino, in 2021 and 2023.
Committee Chairman state Senator L. Louise Lucas previously said she wanted to keep SB675 alive and requested more information, such as tax revenue potential. However, local neighborhood groups and residents strongly opposed the proposed casino due to traffic and crime concerns.
Some local officials believe a casino along the Silver Line Metrorail station in Tysons Corner was a poor choice. State Senator Jennifer Boysko said, “This is where Fortune 500 companies have come to make their home. This is not something that Fortune 500s would like to have in their community.”
The bill’s sponsor, state Senator David Marsden noted the demand for prime office space has declined since the pandemic, and Fairfax County needs a more diverse tax base. He added a referendum would allow all county residents, not particular neighborhoods, to decide the issue.
Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell said revenue generated by a Fairfax County casino could potentially save each county taxpayer $500 to $600 annually. In addition, a 2019 study commissioned by the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee indicated a northern Virginia casino could generate $155 million in yearly tax revenue, more than any other Virginia casino.
Marsden said, “There aren’t many bills that come before this committee that offer this much potential revenue. This absolutely has to be considered.”
Casino supporters point out MGM National Harbor casino in Maryland, just across the Potomac River, draws heavily from Virginia for its customer base. But Connie Hartke with the anti-casino Reston Citizens Association, supporters can expect even greater pushback if the issue returns next year. She said, “We’re very familiar with long-term battles. We’re going to be even stronger next year.”
