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Fairfax County supervisors are urging Gov. Abigail Spanberger to veto legislation that would clear a path for a casino in Tysons, even after lawmakers stripped a fiercely criticized temporary-casino provision from the final bill.
The General Assembly approved Senate Bill 756 on Saturday, March 14, sending a Fairfax casino measure to the governor for the first time. Similar proposals failed in 2024 and 2025.
The Senate passed the bill 25-13, followed by a 55-41 vote in the House of Delegates.
Despite weeks of debate and revisions, lawmakers ultimately adopted language matching the version introduced at the start of the legislative session in January. Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell, a Democrat representing District 34, requested a second conference and returned to his original proposal.
“Basically, this is the bill we adopted last year,” Surovell said.
The legislation would make Fairfax County eligible for casino gaming and restrict possible sites to a 1.5-million-square-foot mixed-use development in Tysons. In other respects, Fairfax would be treated like the five Virginia cities already authorized to host casinos.
A version approved by the Senate on Friday, March 13, would have permitted a temporary casino before a local referendum. It also would have divided gaming tax revenue equally between the state and county, replacing the existing formula that directs about 70% to the state and 30% to the host locality.
Both changes disappeared from the final legislation after the temporary-casino proposal drew intense opposition from community groups, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors and members of the House.
Board Chairman Jeff McKay led supervisors in sending a Friday letter urging Fairfax’s House delegation to reject the measure. The board called the temporary-casino language “problematic” and “deeply short-sighted,” arguing that it would weaken county control over land-use decisions and development in Tysons.
“The latest version of S.B. 756 was crafted by pro-casino advocates that do not represent Tysons, in the eleventh hour of session, out of the public’s view,” board members wrote. “It is bad enough to disrespect the wishes of Fairfax County voters and their duly elected representatives; it is worse to do so in a way that undermines planned development in one of the economic drivers of the entire Commonwealth.”
After Saturday’s votes, McKay thanked Fairfax’s House delegation for challenging the Senate’s initial conference agreement, which he characterized as a power grab.
A majority of Fairfax County’s senators supported SB 756. Sens. Jennifer Carroll Foy, Stella Pekarsky, Surovell and Dave Marsden voted for the legislation.
Only three of the 15 House delegates representing Fairfax County backed the bill after the temporary-casino provision was removed: Laura Jane Cohen, Garrett McGuire and Rozia Henson Jr.
“The House ultimately approved a bill that still raises serious concerns, but retains some local authority,” McKay said. “I will continue to fight any and all efforts to jam a casino in Tysons.”
Providence District Supervisor Dalia Palchik, whose district covers most of Tysons, thanked House Speaker Don Scott and the House for eliminating the provisions added by the Senate on Friday. She also called for a gubernatorial veto.
“If the antics of the last 24 hours have made one thing clear, it’s that this legislation is not being put forward in good faith by its patron,” Palchik said. “The prescribed location and lousy financial deal for Fairfax make a mockery of local land use authority and take financial advantage of our community.”
The Board of Supervisors narrowly voted in December to oppose any state legislation authorizing a Fairfax County casino that the county had not requested. Hunter Mill District Supervisor Walter Alcorn, whose district includes part of western Tysons, led that effort and joined Palchik in asking Spanberger to veto SB 756.
“We did not ask for it, and we don’t want it,” Alcorn said Sunday.
Spanberger has until 11:59 p.m. Monday, April 13, to sign, veto or amend legislation sent to her desk.