Efforts to bring a casino development to Fairfax County, Virginia, have resurfaced following the introduction of new legislation by State Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell.
The proposal would once again seek to make Fairfax County eligible to host a casino, reviving a plan that has faced repeated resistance at both the local and state levels.
Surovell, a Democrat whose district includes part of Fairfax County, has introduced Senate Bill 756 after a similar measure failed to advance out of a House of Delegates committee last year.
The bill would authorise a large-scale entertainment complex comprising a casino, hotel, performing arts venue and convention centre, subject to voter approval through a local referendum.
Supporters of the proposal argue that the development could generate significant new revenue for the county. Surovell has said Fairfax is losing hundreds of millions of dollars annually to neighbouring Maryland, where MGM National Harbor operates just across the state line. He estimates the project could deliver approximately $300m per year in local revenue, which he says could help fund public services including education, emergency services and infrastructure.
However, opposition remains strong among local residents and community groups, particularly in Tysons, where the development would be located. The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors voted against supporting the proposal last month, citing concerns raised by residents about increased traffic, congestion and strain on infrastructure.
The Tysons Stakeholders Alliance has criticised the bill’s reintroduction, stating that it disregards community sentiment and previous planning decisions. The group points to recent polling suggesting that a majority of county residents oppose a casino in the area and has urged state lawmakers to reject the legislation.
Fairfax County has not successfully advanced casino legislation since 2022, underscoring the political challenges facing the proposal.
If the bill progresses through the General Assembly, the final decision would rest with voters in Fairfax County through a referendum.
The proposal arrives as Virginia lawmakers consider other gambling-related legislation, including House Bill 515, which would ban credit cards for sports betting deposits.
Virginia currently allows casinos in a limited number of cities, including Norfolk, Portsmouth and Danville, with each development subject to local voter approval
