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Fairfax County voters would not be asked to decide the fate of a proposed casino if pending Virginia legislation becomes law in its current form, Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay said.

The legislation would require voter approval before casino gambling could move forward in the county, but it currently gives the Board of Supervisors the choice of whether to hold that referendum.

“If the bill comes out in its current form, I will not support it going to referendum,” McKay said. “I am not going to subject my residents to vote on something that we know is a bad deal for them.”

The proposal has passed both the House of Delegates and Senate, although lawmakers must reconcile differences between the two versions before sending it to Gov. Abigail Spanberger.

McKay’s primary objection is the proposed division of casino tax revenue. A feasibility study found that a casino could produce $42.2 million for Virginia and $19.9 million for Fairfax County.

“This is a great deal for the state,” McKay said. “They get 75% of the money. We get 25% of it, and all the problems associated with a casino.”

Critics have also raised concerns about possible effects on traffic and crime.

McKay said the legislation would sharply limit the county board’s control over land-use decisions, an authority traditionally exercised by local governments.

Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell, who introduced SB756, has argued that a casino and entertainment district would help Virginia retain money now flowing to MGM National Harbor in Maryland.

The measure could permit a casino anywhere in Fairfax County if voters approve it. Earlier versions of the casino proposal, debated in the General Assembly for years, focused on Tysons as a potential location.

McKay warned that lawmakers could still revise the measure and require a referendum without the county board’s consent.

“The state could always change that,” he said. “They could always impose this upon us, and that’s something I’ve raised concerns about repeatedly with my colleagues and the public.”

It remains unclear whether Spanberger would sign the final legislation. McKay said the governor has generally opposed gambling activities and suggested that local control over a referendum could influence her decision.

“At a minimum, the local government should have the authority to decide whether or not a referendum should be held,” he said.