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Read Full BioLawmakers in Virginia passed a bill that will allow Fairfax County residents to vote on whether to allow a casino to open in Tysons.
With debates on the final text of the legislation running late into Friday night, both houses eventually approved SB756 on Saturday. It will now be up to Gov. Abigail Spanberger to sign off on the bill.
The bill would have allowed a temporary casino to open in Tysons without voter approval, but the House removed this before approving the new version in a 55-41 vote. The Senate then voted 25-13 to pass the revised bill and send it to the governor.
Power Grab Almost Forced Casino
Fairfax County Board Chair Jeff McKay said casino interests almost forced a bill through that would have kept residents and local officials out of the decision-making process.
Developer Comstock Holdings has spent over $3.5 million on lobbying to secure approval for the project. McKay said this money led to lawmakers attempting to revise Virginia’s laws.
In comments reported by Patch, McKay said, “To be clear, this language was written by pro-casino advocates in the General Assembly — led by Fairfax’s own Senator Surovell. This was done out of the public’s view and would have imposed a casino on Fairfax County and its residents.”
The Friday night version of the bill would have allowed a temporary casino to operate for up to 5 years if approved by the state’s Major Employment and Investment Project Approval Commission.
“Thankfully, the entire Fairfax County House delegation saw right through this power grab and rejected the conference report,” said McKay.
The Board remains divided on the prospect of a casino opening in Tysons and, in December, voted 5-4 against the proposal. McKay added that the approved bill “still raises serious concerns, but retains some local authority.”
Residents Oppose Casino
Comstock still faces a considerable challenge to get voters to approve the development, which would be Virginia’s sixth casino. The final version of the bill removed the July 1, 2029, time limit for the referendum, giving the company time to campaign for support.
A poll last year indicated that 75% of Fairfax County residents oppose plans to open a casino, with opposition even stronger around Tysons.
Comstock argues the casino will bring prosperity to the region, creating over 5,000 jobs, but opponents remain skeptical. Freedom Virginia’s co-executive director, Ryan O’Toole, said the poll shows that residents “reject the argument that a casino will boost the local economy or lower their taxes.”
The main concerns appear to be the disruption a casino will have on the area. Nearly nine in 10 voters (88%) believe casinos worsen traffic congestion in surrounding neighborhoods, while 76% say Virginians already have enough gaming options.
Virginia opened its fifth casino in January, with a temporary Live! Casino Virginia venue in Petersburg. The casino generated $4.7 million in revenue in its first 10 days. The full $1.4 billion hotel and casino is set to open in 2027.
