Virginia Governor Vetoes Plans For Casino In Tysons Corner

Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger has vetoed legislation that would force the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors to call a referendum vote to build a casino in Tysons Corner.

The governor, in a Thursday press release announcing the decision, cited her belief that local decisions on gambling should be left up to local decision-making bodies, not the state legislature.

Both the state Senate and House of Delegates voted to force a referendum, despite the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors being dead-set against the idea of a casino in Tysons Corner. 

“Local governing boards should lead on proposed casino development, as has happened in every locality that now has a casino,” said Spanberger in a statement. “But in Fairfax County, the Board of Supervisors has explicitly opposed this legislation, and an overwhelming majority of the General Assembly members who represent Fairfax voted against it.”

Spanberger said that since the state first allowed casinos in 2020, all five cities that now host casinos actively sought out the referendum. In Virginia, that’s how it works: The state legislature approves a plan to build a casino in a city, and then the matter goes to the local governing body, which can choose to hold the referendum.

The state had been five-for-five up until the pushback in Tysons Corner. 

“In no other circumstance has the General Assembly prescribed specifications for a casino’s location,” said Spanberger. “This effectively precludes local input and eliminates local decisions. While this legislation specifically affects only Fairfax County, it would set a precedent to bring casino referendums to other localities where the local governing board may similarly oppose such an effort.”

The plan

Virginia lawmakers had tried for three years to bring a casino to Fairfax County before SB 756, introduced by Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell, cleared the General Assembly in March. 

The bill effectively targeted Tysons Corner by requiring a site tied to a mixed-use development of at least 1.5 million square feet within a quarter-mile of a Silver Line Metro station.

Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay opposed the effort, calling the state-local revenue split — roughly 70% to the state, 30% to the locality — a bad deal for taxpayers. The board voted 5-4 in December to formally oppose casino legislation. Surovell argued Tysons Corner needed the investment, citing a 20% office vacancy rate.

Revenue projections varied widely, from $155 million in statewide gaming taxes in a 2019 state study to $29.1 million annually for Fairfax in a more recent county-commissioned estimate. 

The No Fairfax Casino Coalition, representing more than 40 local organizations, had called on Spanberger to veto.

Spanberger also took the time to note her desire for a statewide regulatory agency to deal with gambling in the state.

“I remain deeply concerned about the continuous efforts to expand gaming across Virginia without a single, independent, and dedicated entity responsible for regulating all legal forms of gaming across the Commonwealth,” Spanberger said. “A unified regulatory structure is essential to ensuring transparency, accountability, safety, and public confidence. I am committed to working with the General Assembly moving forward to ensure that communities across the Commonwealth remain safe, prosperous, and healthy.”