Lawmakers have intervened in an attempt to bring a casino to Fairfax County
Efforts to bring a fifth casino to Virginia have hit a major roadblock, as the proposal to build a gambling venue in Tysons is officially stalled. Senate Bill 675, which sought to allow Fairfax County voters to decide on the matter through a referendum, failed to move forward in the state Senate Committee on Finance and Appropriations before a critical deadline. The delay means the bill will not be revisited until at least 2025.
Sen. Dave Marsden, who sponsored the legislation, has expressed plans to reintroduce a similar measure in the next legislative session. However, the content of the future bill may depend on polling results currently being prepared by casino proponents. These groups had initially planned a telephone survey earlier this year but postponed it due to the US election season. With the election behind, they expect polling to resume soon.
The proposed casino would have been located along the Silver Line, likely in Tysons, within two miles of a regional enclosed mall. It was designed as a massive entertainment complex with a casino, hotel, restaurants, retail stores, a convention center, and workforce housing. Supporters argue it would create 5,000 unionized jobs and significantly boost tax revenue.
Despite these promises, the project has faced fierce opposition from local officials and residents. Critics worry a casino could harm existing businesses and derail the area’s mixed-use development plans, which have attracted major companies and fostered job growth in Tysons. Fairfax County Board Chair Jeff McKay has expressed skepticism about the project, citing a lack of community engagement in its planning.
With debate intensifying, the future of a fifth casino in Virginia remains uncertain. The question of whether Tysons—or another location—might host such a venue will now wait until the next legislative cycle.
