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As Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger is weighing whether she will sign a measure allowing voters to decide whether or not to build a Casino Complex in Fairfax County. Local and state leaders are divided on the issue.
The bill would permit the construction of an 1.5 million square foot mixed-use development if the Board of Supervisors approved a referendum. The complex will include a convention center, entertainment district and casino.
Richmond’s General Assembly considered this possibility for the third time in a row. Although several elected officials from the Northern Virginia region voted against the idea, it passed both chambers.
A series of amendments considered before the session ended in 2026 would have allowed for the construction of a temporary casino in Fairfax County, through a procedure that would have eliminated the need for local referendum. The measure that was passed was the same as the original.
Jeff McKay, Chairman of the Board of Supervisors, said in a meeting on Tuesday that “the idea that Tysons was struggling and the state needed to come up a gimmick for it is wrong — Tysons funds the state!” “It’s places like Tysons who are funding the state.”
McKay stated that bringing a casino into the area had raised lingering questions, such as how it would affect property values, traffic, and school population.
Dalia Palchik is the supervisor of the district that includes Tysons. She said the area “does not need rescue” citing the recent news about Capital One expanding into the Tysons region.
Jobs versus demand debate tests county-state ties
Some labor groups have hailed the casino project as an opportunity to create more jobs in the area. Advocates say that it will generate billions of dollars to help Fairfax County Schools and possibly allow local leaders to reduce property taxes.
Scott Surovell of the Senate Majority, who presented the bill to allow a casino to be built in Fairfax County said Tysons had difficulty attracting projects.
The Dulles rail line has proven to be more appealing along the Toll Road for many developers. “You’ve seen more construction through there than in Tysons,” said he to WTOP.
Cushman & Wakefield reported that the national office vacancy rates were about the same last year.
During the meeting on Tuesday, Supervisor Jimmy Bierman stated that the bill was designed to benefit a particular developer and urged Spanberger not to approve the plan.
Bierman stated, “I hope, if she does not, that our board will take action against this terrible, terrible proposal in Tysons.”
Surovell explained that the project could be built at two different locations, owned by two separate entities. “The law does not apply to one entity or developer,” he said.
He said that if the county were serious about economic growth, they might see this as a chance to try and bring a multibillion-dollar project to the area, something they haven’t done in more than a decade.
Surovell claimed that he hadn’t talked to Spanberger for at least two months about the casino proposal.
Surovell stated that he has “reached out” to local leaders over the past 60 days in order to learn what they really want. Every time I present a proposal in line with what the local leaders have asked for, they tell me that it is not what they wanted. “I’m not sure what to do to make them happy.”
Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, before the session of 2026 began, voted against adding the casino project to its list of legislative priority.
Spanberger will have until the end of next month to sign or veto this bill.
