It took three attempts by two different patrons, but legislation to potentially allow a casino in Fairfax County appears to be heading toward adoption.
After setting aside a similar bill last year, the Virginia House Appropriations Committee voted 18-4 earlier today (Friday) to advance SB 756, sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell, to the full chamber.
Notably, all three delegates representing Fairfax County on the committee — Paul Krizek (D-16), Kathy Tran (D-18) and Charniele Herring (D-4) — voted against reporting the bill. They were joined by Del. Marcia Price (D-85), who represents part of Newport News and expressed reservations about Virginia increasing its reliance on gambling revenue at a House General Laws Committee hearing on Tuesday (Feb. 24).
The appropriations committee adopted a substitute that stripped out several of the new conditions introduced by Krizek, who chairs the general laws committee, so the bill now heading to the House floor will more closely resemble the version that passed the state Senate on Feb. 13.
Bringing the process back in line with the one in place for other localities where casinos have been considered, SB 756 will no longer require a referendum authorizing casino gambling in Fairfax County to win support from a majority of voters both countywide and in the magisterial district where the development will be located.
Provisions mandating that the future developer pay prevailing wages to construction and hospitality workers and agree to union contracts have also been removed, as have the increased license fee and reconfigured gaming tax revenue structure. Krizek’s substitute had proposed raising the fee from $15 million to $150 million and splitting the proceeds from a 40% tax imposed on the casino’s earnings 50-50 between Fairfax County and the Commonwealth.
The amended bill does still require a future casino operator to voluntarily commit to building, funding or dedicating land for at least one public safety facility to serve the area, and Virginia Lottery must make documents outlining any agreements between the local government and the casino operator publicly available.
The casino must be located in a mixed-use development with at least 1.5 million square feet of space, which could include a conference center, hotel or large-scale concert venue.
Fairfax County’s eligibility to host a casino will expire on July 1, 2029 if it hasn’t held a successful referendum by then.
Members of the appropriations committee didn’t comment on the proposed legislation, but David Reynolds, a legislative fiscal analyst for the body, confirmed that the substitute bill “complies with current law” when it comes to the proposed casino licensing application fee and tax revenues.
Surovell, who represents southeastern Fairfax County and also carried the Fairfax County casino bill in 2025, declined to comment for now.
“I was leaving the Senate chamber right when the House Appropriations Committee yet and so have not seen the changes yet,” Surovell told FFXnow shortly after 5 p.m.
The appropriations committee also advanced bills that would legalize internet gaming and study regulations for fantasy contests, while a bill from Krizek to establish a statewide gaming commission for regulating all gambling was sent to the Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee on Wednesday (Feb. 25).
The Fairfax County casino bill could be heard before the full House of Delegates as soon as Monday (March 2), when the chamber is scheduled to reconvene at noon.
Reston Association (RA), one of several local homeowners’ associations that have opposed the prospect of a casino in Fairfax County, urged likeminded residents to contact their delegates.
In a sample letter provided for Reston residents, the association contended that a casino and the accompanying “noise, traffic and other activity” would undermine decades of “careful planning that has made Reston a desirable place to live, work and play.”
“We need to let legislators know we do not want a casino in our community,” RA said.
