Northern Virginia Lawmakers Call on Gov. Spanberger to Veto Tysons Casino Bill
Posted on: April 3, 2026, 11:18h.
Last updated on: April 3, 2026, 11:18h.
- State lawmakers representing Fairfax hope the governor vetoes Senate Bill 756
- The legislation seeks to allow a casino in Tysons
Lawmakers representing Northern Virginia are calling on Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D) to veto legislation on her desk that proposes allowing the Fairfax County government to consider a casino.
Opposition to a casino development in the affluent county is vast.
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors did not ask for gaming privileges, as did the five other designated casino locales in Virginia. The local government has stated it doesn’t want a casino and has asked Spanberger to veto Senate Bill 756. Various homeowner associations and civic groups in Fairfax County are also opposed.
Though some unions are in favor of a possible casino resort, the public sentiment is seemingly against placing a Las Vegas-like destination in Tysons. Several state lawmakers who represent the McLean area recently made public pleas to Spanberger to trash the Tysons casino bill.
This is my call to action: Now is the time, do not wait,” Del. Rip Sullivan (D-Fairfax) said during an event sponsored by the McLean Citizens Association, as reported by FFXNow. “You need to let her know.”
SB756 passed the Virginia General Assembly in March after a special conference committee sealed a deal to satisfy both chambers of the legislature. The bill would limit a casino in Fairfax County to a former auto dealership along the Leesburg Pike next to the Adaire residential high-rise and Spring Hill Metro Station.
Local Pushback
Sullivan wasn’t alone in urging Fairfax residents to reach out to the governor to tell her a casino isn’t wanted. State Sen. Jennifer Boysko (D-Fairfax), a constant opponent of SB756, said now is the time to act.
“I have been asking my friends and neighbors to reach out to the governor,” Boysko said. “Let her know that this is important to us. We all need to work together.”
Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell (D-Fairfax) has led the push for a casino in Tysons. Surovell used his legislative prowess to convince lawmakers that a casino in Northern Virginia would generate considerable state tax revenue by keeping gaming dollars currently being wagered at MGM National Harbor in Maryland within the commonwealth.
Fairfax, Surovell says, is also in need of new funding sources, as property tax revenue remains subdued, a lasting consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic that greatly hurt McLean’s economy, which relies heavily on corporate workspaces.
Deadline Approaching
Spanberger has 30 days from the General Assembly’s adjournment to act on legislation sent to her office. The legislature ended its regular session on March 14, meaning the governor has until Monday, April 13, to decide whether SB756 becomes law.
If Spanberger approves the measure, a casino still would not be authorized in Tysons. The bill only allows the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors to conduct a competitive bid and present the project to voters. A county referendum with majority support would be the final step in greenlighting the casino.
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