Fairfax, Virginia Casino Bill Gains Life After Subcommittee Vote

Fairfax County is one step closer to becoming eligible to house a retail casino following a subcommittee’s decision on Monday.

The Gaming Subcommittee of the Virginia Senate passed SB982 with a 5-2 vote, with one Senator, Adam P. Ebbin (D-Alexandria), abstaining.

The bill would enable Fairfax County voters to decide on the fate of a casino proposed to land in Tysons Corner. It would not outright enable the development of the casino.

Making progress

The bill does not individually name Fairfax County as the target for the new casino. However, the land use that is outlined suggests that Tysons, which has been discussed as the next host of a Virginia casino, would be the target.

“This project is exactly the kind of project that was intended to be on that [Silver Metro] line when it was built,” said Sen. Scott Surovell (D-34), the Virginia Senate majority leader who introduced the bill last year, in reference to a metro line that completed its second phase in 2022.

The next stop for the bill is the Senate General Laws and Technology Committee, which is scheduled to meet at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday. 

That committee advanced a similar gaming bill on a tie vote last year, marking the last time that bill made progress before it was tabled by the Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee.

Several groups, including labor unions and local organizations, support the idea of bringing a casino to the affluent Tysons area because of the positive impact on job creation and tax funding. 

“This is one of the ways we can bring more revenue into Fairfax County without raising taxes,” said Fairfax County Federation of Teachers member Emily VanDerhoff.

Mixed opinions

Development company Comstock companies is believed to be at the front of the race to land the development contract should the casino project be greenlighted. 

The company submitted a proposal “to bring an entertainment anchor” to Tysons which is surrounded by three of the wealthiest counties in the country.

The proposal also contained plans for apartments, a performance venue, a hotel, a convention center, a movie theater, and retail shops, per the Washington Business Journal.

While there is definite support for the casino, there are also critics. A group of locals worry that the addition of a casino would run businesses such as Fortune 500 companies out of the area. 

A group of casino critics recently traveled to the state capital of Richmond to voice their distaste for the bill currently making its rounds.

“We are standing together to protect our community and ensure our voices are heard,” Lynne Mulston, leader of the No Fairfax Casino Coalition, said at last week’s meeting. “The proposed casino threatens the fabric of our larger community.”

Members of the defense community also suggested that the casino would bring an increased security risk to the area, which is just about 15 miles from the White House.