Concerns Raised Over Proposed Casino In Fairfax County Due To ‘National Security’ Risks

A coalition of former national security leaders has issued a formal plea to the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, urging the rejection of plans for a casino in Tysons, Virginia. Patch.com reports that the proposed location’s proximity to sensitive government and contractor operations has drawn significant concern.

The group, composed of former high-ranking officials from agencies such as the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), the Department of Defense, and the U.S. military, outlined the potential risks such a facility could pose to national security.

Fairfax County is home to a dense population of federal employees and contractors with high-level security clearances. The CIA, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, and the National Counterterrorism Center are all within a ten-minute drive of the proposed site. Additionally, contractors like Boeing, Lockheed Martin, and Raytheon, which work closely with these agencies, also operate nearby.

The coalition emphasized that the region hosts one of the highest concentrations of personnel with access to the nation’s most classified information. Establishing a gambling facility in this environment, they argued, would create an unnecessary risk by exposing these individuals to the vulnerabilities associated with problem gambling.

The group highlighted gambling’s documented association with financial instability and addiction, issues that can lead to the loss of security clearances. According to the coalition, gambling debts have historically played a role in espionage cases, as individuals burdened with financial pressures have been coerced into selling classified information.

There’s currently no legislative initiative supporting the Fairfax casino. However, the letter seems to be an effort to get in front of the issue before it progresses further.

A prime target for foreign operatives

Beyond individual vulnerabilities, the casino’s presence could attract organized crime and adversarial intelligence operatives seeking to exploit weaknesses. The coalition cited recent cyberattacks on major casino operators, such as MGM Resorts International and Caesars Resorts, as evidence of the heightened risk associated with gambling establishments.

Foreign intelligence services, which are known to operate extensively in the Washington, D.C. region, may find opportunities to recruit or blackmail individuals accessing the casino. Such risks, they argue, are particularly acute given the area’s concentration of critical defense and intelligence operations.

The letter also pointed to broader public health concerns. Gambling addiction has been rising in Virginia, with calls to the state’s problem gambling hotline increasing by 143% in recent years.

Military personnel, who make up a significant portion of Fairfax County residents, are particularly vulnerable, with studies showing they are two to three times more likely to develop gambling addictions than civilians. The coalition noted that this trend could exacerbate challenges in maintaining military readiness and recruiting personnel capable of obtaining necessary security clearances.

The coalition concluded by urging Fairfax County to prioritize long-term security and socioeconomic stability over potential short-term revenue gains from gambling operations. They called on the Board of Supervisors to not only reject the proposed casino in Tysons but also communicate this decision to Virginia’s General Assembly and state leadership.

In doing so, they hope to prevent what they see as an avoidable threat to the safety and security of both the local community and the nation.