The legislation to make Fairfax County eligible for a casino isn’t officially dead, but it appears to be in active need of resuscitation.
A House of Delegates appropriations subcommittee’s decision to pass by Senate Bill 982 after a 30-minute hearing on Wednesday (Feb. 12) brought celebratory statements from the community groups and local elected officials who had vocally opposed the proposal to allow a casino in Tysons.
“The voice of the people was finally heard today,” Tysons Stakeholders Alliance President Paula Martino said, thanking the delegates for not acting on the bill and the state senators who voted against it earlier. “… If this bill had passed, it would have not only wreaked havoc on our county and region but it would have set a bad precedent in circumventing local authority and the will of the local community.”
Dranesville District Supervisor Jimmy Bierman called the latest turn of events “great news,” while Hunter Mill District Supervisor Walter Alcorn thanked state legislators who opposed the bill, Bierman and Franconia District Supervisor Rodney Lusk for sharing his opposition, and community members who lobbied the General Assembly.
“We hear a lot about private interests throwing around millions of dollars to trample over community concerns,” Alcorn said in a newsletter on Wednesday. “But that did not happen this year, at least not in Virginia on this casino bill. Thanks to all who helped make that happen.”
The bill to bring a casino to Tysons is dead for 2025, following a Virginia House subcommittee vote today!
Big thanks to Del. Karen Keys-Gamarra, @ireneforva.bsky.social, @hollyseiboldva.bsky.social, Del. David Bulova, @donscott757.bsky.social, Sen. Jennifer Boysko & @salimvasenate.bsky.social!
— Supervisor Walter Alcorn (@walteralcorn.bsky.social) February 12, 2025 at 7:08 PM
Introduced by Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell (D-34), the bill would add Fairfax County to the short list of localities in Virginia eligible for a casino. If passed by the General Assembly and signed by Gov. Glenn Youngkin, it would give the county’s Board of Supervisors the authority to organize a voter referendum.
Surovell, who argued that a casino development would give the state and Fairfax County a needed new source of tax revenue, expressed disappointment that the House Appropriations Commerce, Agriculture and Natural Resources Subcommittee tabled his bill.
But in a statement released Wednesday, he also held out hope that a vote might be scheduled after all:
“With the Trump administration moving aggressively to eliminate jobs in Northern Virginia, I am disappointed that the House Committee on Appropriations did not see fit to advance SB 982 to bring thousands of union jobs to Fairfax County.
“I appreciated the opportunity to present the bill for the first time to the House of Delegates today, and I am proud to have worked closely with the Northern Virginia Labor Federation on this project that would address both Fairfax County’s systemic revenue gap, and the declining ridership on our Metro system without costing the taxpayers a single dime.
“With thousands of federal jobs already eliminated and the prospect of further damage to our local economy on the horizon, I look forward to continued work with my partners in the Fairfax Delegation to the General Assembly and our Board of Supervisors to bring forward policies that offer relief and support for our citizens.
“I appreciate the Subcommittee’s consideration of the bill and giving the entertainment district’s supporters a chance to continue the discussion this session, and hope they will consider docketing the bill for a vote over the next week.”
Still, with the subcommittee not scheduled for any more meetings this session, as chair Del. David Bulova (D-11) indicated at Wednesday’s hearing, the legislation appears to be effectively dead for 2025.
Debate over casino expected to continue
Though it’s unclear whether Surovell or another legislator will be interested in reviving the bill in 2026, the push to bring a casino to Fairfax County — or at least get the issue before voters with a referendum — isn’t likely to go away any time soon.
Comstock, the developer behind Reston Station, has been a major force behind S.B. 982, proposing an “entertainment district” near the Spring Hill Metro station that would be anchored by a casino but also potentially include a hotel, convention center, performing arts venue, housing, an IMAX movie theater and retail.
Noting that the legislation made “significant progress” compared to the 2024 session, when it fizzled in the Senate, Comstock CEO Chris Clemente thanked the labor unions and others who advocated for the company’s proposed project, which he said would deliver “thousands of union construction and facility operations jobs” and “significant affordable housing commitments.”
Attributing the stalling of Surovell’s bill to an unidentified “out-of-state special interest group,” Clemente said in a lengthy statement shared with FFXnow that Comstock remains “committed” to its vision for the Tysons development.
While we are encouraged by the significant progress made this session, we are disappointed that the abbreviated legislative session ultimately did not allow enough time to cross the finish line.
We deeply appreciate the thousands of supporters who dedicated their time to advocating for our proposed Tysons Entertainment District and for the opportunity to vote on the referendum that SB982 would have facilitated. It is clear that a majority of Fairfax County residents want their voices heard on this important economic development initiative.
Unfortunately, the substantial resources and legislative influence of an out-of-state special interest group—one that holds a de facto monopoly on gaming in Northern Virginia—were able to slow our progress during this shortened session. As a result, the majority voice of Fairfax County residents was ultimately silenced.
We are also grateful for the unwavering support of labor representatives and union members who recognize the transformative impact the proposed Tysons Entertainment District would have on the region while enhancing the lives of thousands of working class families in northern Virginia. This project would provide thousands of union construction and facility operations jobs, offering fair wages, strong benefits, and job security. Additionally, Comstock’s significant affordable housing commitments would help working families live closer to their workplaces in one of the nation’s most expensive housing markets.
We appreciate the elected officials who took time out of their busy schedules to consider what would be northern Virginia’s most significant economic development opportunity since Amazon’s HQ2. The projected $400–$500 million in annual tax revenue that could be generated upon full build-out of this development would directly benefit the local jurisdiction and the Commonwealth of Virginia, without requiring any public financing.
The proposed entertainment district would attract a Fortune 100 company to Virginia, create thousands of well-paying union jobs, diversify the local economy, and boost corporate and entertainment tourism through its conference center, concert hall, and other attractions.
Despite this session’s outcome, we remain committed to advancing this tremendous economic development opportunity for northern Virginia. We look forward to building on the momentum we’ve gained and continuing our efforts in the months ahead.
If the casino referendum bill makes a comeback next year, opponents have vowed to once again put up a fight.
In a statement on Wednesday, No Fairfax Casino Coalition spokesperson Lynne Mulston said the group — whose supporters included dozens of homeowners’ associations and the Vienna Town Council — will continue monitoring for future developments.
“We extend our deepest gratitude to Senator Jennifer Boysko, whose bold, decisive leadership led the opposition to this casino bill. Of significance, we acknowledge the thousands of Fairfax County residents who signed petitions opposing the bill, wrote members of the General Assembly, donated to the fight, planted yard signs, attended our rallies and travelled numerous times to Richmond in order to voice opposition.”
“This bill was not requested by the local government, unlike the five other casinos that were authorized. This bill is the product of a local developer who stands to benefit from the carefully crafted language of the bill that targets his holdings and possibly one other nearby site. Further, the idea of a casino has been rejected by thousands of residents of the county who believe that a casino does not comport with the long term plans for Tysons.”
“The current bill followed from a previous failed effort by Senator Dave Marsden, in last year’s session. So, it is likely to resurrect itself in another piece of legislation in the future.”
Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay, who had previously not taken a firm stance against Surovell’s bill but expressed skepticism in a letter to the General Assembly, similarly seems braced for the debate over a potential casino referendum to continue.
“I appreciate that it’s dead,” he told WTOP. “… I do think it’ll come back, and if it doesn’t come back with a substantially better revenue share that’s worth even looking at, then we will just fight it like we’ve had to do this time.”
