The effort to build Virginia’s fifth and final retail casino in Tysons is dead for now. A bill before the Senate Committee on Finance and Appropriations that would have allowed Fairfax County’s Board of Supervisors to put the question to voters on an upcoming ballot failed to emerge from committee. Still, despite the latest speedbump, the bill’s sponsor, Sen. Dave Marsden, said he’ll continue his push for a new casino.
In early 2024, the senate committee voted overwhelmingly to push Senate Bill 675 to the Virginia General Assembly’s 2025 legislative session, which begins on Jan. 8. However, a Senate clerk confirmed to Bonus on Wednesday that the committee failed to rehear the bill by the Nov. 18 deadline, effectively killing the proposed legislation. Had SB675 prevailed, the General Assembly and Gov. Glenn Youngkin would have the chance to approve and sign the legislation during the upcoming session.
With the bill’s untimely death this week, the chance to vote for or against a new casino in Fairfax County depends on a new bill, which will have to wait until 2025.
Sponsor Aims to Reintroduce Casino Bill in January
In welcome news for the pro-casino camp, Marsden told Patch.com last week he intends to introduce a new casino referendum bill in the next legislative session. However, he said the bill’s contents will be dependent on the outcome of polling on the issue.
Casino proponents convened focus groups earlier this year to gather questions for a telephone survey. However, the advocates postponed the study until after the US election. With the general election in the rearview, the intended polling will likely be underway soon.
Bonus emailed Marsden for an update on the polling but has not received a response.
The existing bill specifies that the casino would be located along the Silver Line but outside the Beltway—within two miles of a regional enclosed mall. Due to those parameters, Tysons is the most likely location—a detail Marsden has long asserted.
But, since learning about the proposed referendum, several local lawmakers have joined residents from Tysons, McLean, and Reston in voicing strong casino opposition. Whether that opposition means a new bill would target a different area remains uncertain. Marsden has reportedly expressed openness to considering other locations.
Proponents Cite Taxes, Jobs for Casino Support
Bill SB675 was the third recent attempt at a bill proposing a new casino somewhere along the Silver Line.
In 2023, Marsden, in concert with Del. Wren Williams, introduced legislation in both General Assembly houses. However, after the community shared its strong opposition, the pair quickly withdrew both proposals.
Despite that, casino advocates argue that the project would diversify county revenue and create 5,000 well-paying, unionized jobs. They also expect a new casino to attract more workforce housing to the surrounding area.
The proposed casino plan encompasses 4 million square feet of entertainment space, including a high-end hotel with a gaming floor and a nearby convention center. Plans also call for a 200,000-square-foot casino, concert venue, restaurants, retail stores, and workforce housing.
Notably, the gaming floor of the planned Tysons casino would measure four times the size of Churchill Down’s new Rose Gaming Resort. Built atop the Prince William County landfill, The Rose boasts 50,000 square feet of gaming space, eight restaurants, and over 100 hotel rooms. It also offers live entertainment, ample parking, and a seven-acre public park.
The Town of Dumfries expects annual tax revenues of approximately $11 million, with another $6.7 million earmarked for the county. So far, The Rose has created 500 local jobs.
Casino Opposition Remains Strong
With supporters, Comstock Holding Company, the Reston-based developer behind the Tysons proposal, has spent over $2 million on campaign contributions to advance the referendum bill.
However, in January, Fairfax County board chair Jeff McKay wrote to Virginia’s legislative leaders.
Unlike other jurisdictions that received the authority to hold a referendum to host a casino, Fairfax County did not seek such authority and has not been substantively involved in the development of the casino concept envisioned by stakeholders and the patron of the legislation. It likely comes as no surprise to you that the location and concept included in the legislation and reported in the media has generated significant community concern and opposition.
Further, he said a lack of community engagement during planning leads the board to believe the current bill has little chance of passing.
During a community forum organized by the opposition group No Fairfax Casino, county supervisor Jimmy Bierman said he believes a casino could harm local businesses.
Since we put in place the Tysons Plan, we have seen extraordinary job growth in Tysons. We have seen mixed-use development in Tysons. We have seen huge companies come and relocate in Tysons.
There are lots of opportunities for us to continue job growth in Tysons, and I’ll continue to support that type of development. If some of those companies decide they don’t actually want to be located in Tysons anymore, that’s going to hurt us.
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