Article Text
Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger has vetoed legislation that could have brought a casino to Fairfax County, pointing to strong opposition from the county’s elected leaders and state lawmakers.
The General Assembly-approved measure would have allowed Fairfax County officials to place a casino referendum before voters. The proposed casino and entertainment complex could have been built near the Spring Hill Metro station or on the parking lot commonly used by Cirque du Soleil.
Spanberger said casino proposals should be led by local governing boards, as they have been in every Virginia community that currently has one. Fairfax County’s Board of Supervisors explicitly opposed the legislation, she noted, while an overwhelming majority of General Assembly members representing the county voted against it.
The bill called for a 1.5-million-square-foot mixed-use development featuring a casino, convention center and entertainment complex. The broader vision also included a hotel, concert venue, entertainment district and an IMAX center capable of hosting sporting events.
Supporters argued that the project would create jobs and generate revenue that Virginia now loses when residents visit MGM National Harbor in Maryland. Opponents raised concerns about traffic, crime and public safety, while questioning whether a casino belonged in Tysons.
Supporters warn of lost investment
Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell, who spearheaded the proposal, called the veto deeply disappointing and said the project was Northern Virginia labor’s top legislative priority.
Surovell pointed to plans for a Sphere entertainment venue at MGM National Harbor rather than Tysons. Citing an independent Ernst & Young analysis, he said that venue alone is projected to generate $1.5 billion in annual economic activity for Maryland and nearly 8,000 jobs.
He argued that Virginia had surrendered jobs, tourism and tax revenue to its neighbor across the Potomac as Maryland aggressively pursues major entertainment investments.
Surovell has also cited a 2019 report from Virginia’s Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee to argue that a Fairfax casino could generate more revenue than all other casinos authorized in Virginia combined.
Some residents supported the proposal because of its potential for job growth and local revenue, as well as the distance Northern Virginians must travel to reach MGM National Harbor in Prince George’s County. Opposition within the community, however, was far more pronounced.
Fairfax leaders pushed for the veto
Before the 2026 General Assembly session, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors voted to exclude the casino project from its legislative priorities. Board Chairman Jeff McKay said he encouraged Spanberger to veto the legislation.
McKay said Virginia casinos were intended for communities that requested them because they had few other paths to economic growth. He maintained that Fairfax County had not sought such a project.
Spanberger said the legislation would have overridden local authority because county leaders did not advocate for a referendum.
Lynne Mulston, chair of the No Fairfax Casino Coalition’s steering committee, called the legislation a special exception targeting one locality. She said the veto respected local concerns and the need for transparent, evidence-based policymaking.
Dranesville Supervisor Jimmy Bierman described the bill as “ill-conceived, unwanted and corrupt,” saying supporters’ promises repeatedly collapsed under scrutiny.
McKay also cast doubt on the proposal returning successfully in the near future. He said the Board of Supervisors remains far short of the votes needed to request a casino, adding that Fairfax is protected as long as state policy requires local governments to initiate such proposals.