Tysons Casino Sponsor Asks House Subcommittee to Reconsider Legislation

Posted on: February 13, 2025, 12:12h. 

Last updated on: February 13, 2025, 01:30h.

Devin O'Connor @CasinoorgDevinO Read More
Expertise: Asia Pacific Gaming, Commercial Gaming, Legislation, Politics.
  • The Tysons casino bill is presumably dead after a House subcommittee set the bill aside for 2025
  • The bill’s chief sponsor has asked the subcommittee to reconsider
  • Fairfax County is facing a budget gap because of declining office property taxes

The chief sponsor of the Tysons casino bill that would designate Virginia’s Fairfax County for a commercial casino opportunity has requested that a House subcommittee reconsider its decision to set aside the legislation.

Tysons casino Virginia Fairfax County
Opponents of a Tysons casino in Northern Virginia’s Fairfax County say the roads are already congested. Legislation to designate the area for a Las Vegas resort seemingly died this week in the Richmond capital. (Image: Shutterstock)

Virginia Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell (D-Fairfax) is leading the 2025 crusade to allow voters in Northern Virginia the chance to determine if a casino comes to Fairfax County. While it’s the third legislative session in a row that a bill has been filed to qualify the affluent county for casino gambling, it’s the first time that the powerful and influential Surovell has guided the fight.

On February 4, Senate Bill 982 passed the Virginia Senate with a 24-16 vote.

After moving to the House, it was initially assigned to the General Laws Committee before House Speaker Don Scott (D-Portsmouth), whose district is home to one of the three casinos operating in the commonwealth — Rivers Casino Portsmouth — moved the bill to the House Appropriations Committee. The Commerce, Agriculture & Natural Resources Subcommittee voted to “pass by,” or fold, the statute.

Subcommittee Chair Del. David Bulova (D-Fairfax) said the pass-by motion killed SB982 for the Virginia General Assembly’s 2025 session. 

Federal Government Jobs Heighten County Concerns

Surovell and the previous sponsors of Tysons casino legislation — state Sen. David Marsden (D-Fairfax) and Del. Wren Williams (R-Stuart) — say something must be done to offset Fairfax County’s dwindling property taxes that were hampered by the COVID-19 pandemic. Much office space remains vacant or underutilized, and new lease terms have been favorable to the business renters. That’s prompting landlords to contest their assessed property values to lower their tax bills.

Surovell and other supporters of SB 982 say a casino would generate tens of millions of new tax money for the county and create thousands of good-paying union jobs. They claim the development would be entertainment and hospitality first, with a convention center set to become the first major exhibition facility in the region south of Washington, DC.

President Donald Trump’s administration squeezing out federal workers and cutting costs throughout the government, Surovell says, will further strain the county’s budget.

With the Trump administration moving aggressively to eliminate jobs in Northern Virginia, I am disappointed that the House Committee on Appropriations did not see fit to advance SB 982 to bring thousands of union jobs to Fairfax County. I am proud to have worked closely with the Northern Virginia Labor Federation on this project that would address both Fairfax County’s systemic revenue gap, and the declining ridership on our Metro systems without costing the taxpayers a single dime,” Surovell said.

“With thousands of federal jobs already eliminated and the prospect of further damage to our local economy on the horizon, I look forward to continued work with my partners … to bring forward policies that offer relief and support for our citizens,” he added. Surovell concluded by asking that the Commerce, Agriculture & Natural Resources Subcommittee reconsider their decision and docket the bill for a vote.

No Casino in NOVA 

During Surovell’s push to give the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors the right to hold a local referendum to ask voters if they wish to welcome a casino resort — a privilege that, unlike the five other casino-designated jurisdictions, Fairfax didn’t seek — public outcry was loud and clear.

Casino.org and the county’s state delegation heard from many Fairfax County residents who expressed strong hostility to a casino in the region.

State Sen. Saddam Salim (D-Fairfax) said his office received over 1,300 emails and calls on the casino, with nearly all in opposition. State Sen. Jennifer Boysko (D-Fairfax), another opponent to the Tysons casino statute, said yesterday was “a happy day” after the subcommittee vote.