Fairfax Casino Bill Will Soon Head to Gov. Spanberger Despite County Opposition
Posted on: March 5, 2026, 11:09h.
Last updated on: March 5, 2026, 11:10h.
- Legislation in Virginia to allow a casino in Fairfax County has cleared both legislative chambers
- The House and Senate versions differ slightly, pushing the Fairfax casino bill to a conference committee
- Fairfax residents are seemingly opposed to the casino push
Virginia lawmakers are hungry for more gaming, as legislation this week gained favor in the General Assembly to authorize not only online casino gambling but a sixth brick-and-mortar casino in the commonwealth.
Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell (D-Fairfax) has been championing the 2026 bill to designate Fairfax County as an eligible host locality for a commercial casino.
Senate Bill 756 passed the Senate last month with 23-14 support. On Wednesday, the Fairfax casino bill secured the House of Delegates’ blessing with a 64-32 vote. After a lawmaker requested a second tally, the outcome still passed the bill, though the majority was shortened to 59-37.
SB756 was altered during the House’s consideration. The substitute was soundly rejected by the Senate, which will put the bill in a conference committee for reconciliation. The odds of the casino statute reaching Gov. Abigail Spanberger’s (D) desk remain good.
The governor’s priorities include affordable housing, healthcare, and energy. Spanberger seems willing to turn to so-called “sin industries” like more gaming and the authorization of recreational cannabis to partly pay for increased spending.
Fairfax Casino Opposition
Casino.org has been covering legislative efforts to include Northern Virginia as an eligible casino host for more than three years. We’ve not heard much support from the region’s constituents.
Aside from some unions that say the construction of a casino resort in Fairfax County would create thousands of good-paying construction and permanent jobs, the consensus is seemingly opposed.
In its 2026 Legislative Program, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors issued a statement formally opposing Surovell’s casino bill. The declaration, which was narrowly approved 5-4, said the county opposes “legislation in the General Assembly that authorizes a casino in Fairfax County without any request for such legislation from the [Fairfax County] Board of Supervisors.”
Numerous homeowners associations and civic groups have spoken out against a casino. The Tysons Stakeholders Alliance, a coalition of residents in Fairfax, said it was “disappointed” in SB756 moving forward.
We’re disappointed with this result, and disappointed that our representatives weren’t allowed to voice their opposition to this bill on the House floor,” said Tysons Stakeholders Alliance president Paula Martino.
Numerous state lawmakers representing Fairfax County voted against SB756, including Sens. Jennifer Boysko and Saddam Salim. In the House, voting against the casino bill were Dels. Charniele Herring, Rip Sullivan, Karen Keys-Gamarra, Irene Shin, Karrie Delaney, Dan Helmer, Gretchen Bulova, Holly Seibold, Marcus Simon, Vivian Watts, Paul Krizek, and Kathy Tran.
Fairfax representatives who backed the casino bill, along with Surovell, included Sen. David Marsden, who previously led the Fairfax casino push, and Sens. Jennifer Carroll and Stella Pekarsky. Dels. Laura Jane Cohen, Garret McGuire, and Rozia Henson also lent their support.
Is Fairfax’s Hand Forced?
SB756, should it become law, allows Fairfax County to select a casino proposal and present the development before voters through a countywide ballot referendum. If the election question fields majority support, the Virginia Lottery Board, which regulates casino gaming in the commonwealth, would be able to issue the project a gaming license.
It’s unclear, however, if SB756 requires the county to conduct a competitive bid for the possible casino opportunity. The bill’s language reads:
The eligible host locality … shall select a proposed casino gaming operator that has voluntarily proffered the construction, funding, or dedication of at least one public safety capital facility, such as a police precinct or headquarters or a fire and emergency medical services station, to be located within the jurisdictional bounds of the eligible host locality.”
Casino.org has asked Surovell’s office for clarity on whether Fairfax would need to field casino bids, or the county board could simply disregard SB756’s intent to ask county voters to authorize a casino. If the Senator responds, this story will be updated.
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