With early voting in the June 17 Democratic primary underway, Fairfax County residents might be curious where the politicians on the ballot stand on the prospect of a casino development in Tysons.
Fortunately, the topic was one of the first to crop up last night (Thursday) during a televised debate between the six lieutenant governor candidates seeking the Democratic Party’s nomination — right after a discussion about how they would protect Virginia’s economy and help workers affected by the Trump administration’s federal government cuts.
That looming upheaval, coupled with an office market that has been slow to recover from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, has increased the pressure on Northern Virginia to diversify its economy and tax base, easing the region’s reliance on federal spending and real estate tax revenue.
While Fairfax County took a step in that direction by approving a meals tax and using the revenue to lower its property tax rate, Tysons casino proponents have argued that the “entertainment district” envisioned by potential developer Comstock Companies will provide needed jobs while bolstering the county’s flagging commercial tax base.
Opponents, including all of the state legislators who represent Tysons and several county supervisors, contend that a casino would benefit its operator and developer at the expense of the community, undermining the county’s vision for Tysons by fueling crime, gambling addiction, traffic and other negative consequences.
Early in the hour-long lieutenant governor debate, moderator Kellye Lynn — an anchor for WJLA 7News, which hosted the event in partnership with the Northern Virginia Democratic Black Caucus — asked the candidates if they support expanding gaming by allowing the proposed Tysons casino and easing a ban on slot machines.
“If so, how would you address the negative impacts of gaming like addiction, and the targeting of vulnerable communities?” she asked. “If opposed, what strategies do you pursue to promote economic development and fiscal stability?”
Here’s what the candidates said:
Victor Salgado: Against any Northern Virginia casino
I oppose the casino here in Northern Virginia for a number of reasons, but I want to contextualize my answer in the context of the need for campaign finance reform. Unfortunately, we have Sen. Hashmi [and] Sen. Rouse, who are financing their campaigns with big casino money, with skill gaming money. And it’s no surprise, of course, that they would vote to bring none other than Steve Wynn, Donald Trump’s good friend, into Northern Virginia to build a casino that nobody asked for and that Tysons and that Northern Virginians don’t want. It’s important that we reform our campaign finance laws, because they did this knowing that we would have to carry Northern Virginia, and they jeopardize our electoral prospects just so that they can service their patrons in the casino industry.
Marketing materials for Comstock’s proposed development that circulated among General Assembly members during their 2025 session showed a logo for Encore, a casino brand of Wynn Resorts. Founder Steve Wynn resigned as CEO in 2018 after facing several sexual assault and harassment allegations.
Wynn Resorts spokesperson Michael Weaver told Bisnow in January that the company had been engaged in “conversations” about the Tysons proposal but wasn’t currently pursuing a license.
Even if a bill making Fairfax County eligible for a casino is passed by state lawmakers and signed by the governor in the future, the facility would still have to be approved by local voters in a referendum.
Babur Lateef: Against gambling in all forms
I am 100% opposed to a casino in Tysons Corner. I’m 100% opposed to slot machines in your local 7-Elevens and video poker machines in the restaurants in your neighborhoods. They are designed to make children addicted and to be predatory among those who are the most vulnerable. These are not the ideas we need to generate our Virginia economy on. I, here in Prince William County, have given record raises to teachers — 61% raises over the last seven years — and we’ve done it by also lowering taxes in Prince William. We lowered taxes, we’re going to lower the meals tax. We’ve lowered our car tax rate to among the lowest in the region. How? We’ve done it by diversifying our economy in Prince William with a mix of data centers and economic development, with a mix of other resources.
Ghazala Hashmi: Unclear
Unlike anyone else on the stage here, I have six years of legislative experience and a six-year record of my legislative work that I’ve been doing, and one thing I’ll share with everyone here today is that any time I take a look at a bill or an item of legislation, it is through the lens of working families. It is through the lens of how it can impact and support and assist our working families. I will support a legislation that provides good union jobs, that enables an economy to grow robustly and expand our middle class, [that provides] an opportunity for families to live in areas where normally the cost of living would be prohibitive, [that provides] an opportunity for working families to let their children go to excellent schools in areas that they would otherwise not be able to.
Aaron Rouse: Unclear, but against the state making the decision
I think it’s important to understand the entirety of the issue in terms of dealing with casinos and skill gaming. I’m someone who also served at the local and state level. I never liked Richmond telling us what to do, so I supported legislation giving the localities the option to decide to put on a referendum to decide whether or not they will want a casino. The other part is also supporting our workers, supporting our labor unions, making sure they have good high-paying jobs so they can take care of their families.
Levar Stoney: Against Tysons casino, but open to elsewhere in Fairfax County
As the mayor of Richmond, I’ve sat down with those who were operators of casinos who wanted an opportunity to build in Richmond, and I negotiated with them. I negotiated a community agreement that would also obviously hire workers and make sure that they have a career path moving forward. But the voters had a say. The voters had a say twice, and they said no. And now in Fairfax County, with the possibility of building a casino in Tysons Corner, we’ve heard loud and clear from residents all across the county, but particularly in the Tysons Corner area, that they do not want to see a casino there. I support the residents on this one, because I’m a big believer that we have to talk about land use. I’ve been a mayor. Land use is important here. It’s best in highest use and knowing what goes on, knowing the traffic and people coming in and out of Tysons Corner, I just don’t believe that this is the best site for a casino right now in Fairfax County. However, am I open to a casino in the Northern Virginia? Yes, but is this the site? No.
Alex Bastani: Against state making the decision
I came out against the Tysons Casino. It made no rational sense to build it in Tysons. I’m not for a complete ban. I understand from my campaign manager, who actually lives in Danville, it has done a great deal to help that community. It does matter [for] the unemployment situation of a particular community. I’m not a fan of gambling. However, I believe that the skill game rules should be up to localities. One of the reasons we’ve lost power in this country is because of the condescending attitude of the economic elite. And it’s not my position as a Northern Virginian to tell someone in Lynchburg that they shouldn’t have skill gaming at their local 7-Eleven. It should be up to localities, and I will support that.
