Tysons Casino in Northern Virginia Formally Opposed by Fairfax County Supervisors

• Gambling News
• 10 December 2025

The municipal government of Fairfax County formally opposes any legislation that would permit a casino resort in Tysons or anywhere else in the county.

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors voted 5-4 on Tuesday to explicitly oppose a casino development by adding a position statement to its 2026 Legislative Program. The yearly program informs Richmond politicians of the county's priorities and stances on potential state legislation.

The Virginia General Assembly has been debating whether to permit a casino in Northern Virginia since 2023. Bills to designate Fairfax County for a casino have been supported by state senators David Marsden (D-Fairfax) and Scott Surovell (D-Fairfax). In the House of Delegates, Northern Virginia casino legislation has been spearheaded by State Representative Wren Williams (R-Stuart).

Fairfax authorities want Richmond to know their position on slot machines and table games in case the negotiations pick back up in January when the General Assembly meets for its lengthy session.

Tysons does not have a casino

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors narrowly decided not to approve a casino.

The formal proclamation states:

“Oppose legislation in the General Assembly that authorizes a casino in Fairfax County without any request for such legislation from the Board of Supervisors, without implementation of a statewide Gaming Commission, and without a tax revenue split that substantially benefits Fairfax County as opposed to the commonwealth. The designation and location of a casino is inherently a major land-use decision, and General Assembly intervention in Fairfax County’s land-use processes would undermine decades of community consensus and economic success.”

Neither Fairfax nor any other city or town in the county has requested gaming rights, in contrast to Norfolk, Portsmouth, Bristol, Danville, and Petersburg, who sought casinos through state legislation.

Marsden and his casino associates, notably local real estate developer Comstock Companies, have suggested permitting a casino next to the Adaire apartment complex in Tysons, close to the Spring Hill Metro Station.

Concerned Chair 

Reluctantly, Fairfax Board Chair Jeff McKay broke the 4-4 deadlock by voting in favor of Hunter Mill District Supervisor Walter Alcorn's proposed casino declaration. Although McKay is against a casino, he thinks the county's official opposition might backfire.

"What I have been concerned about from day one isn’t necessarily whether we are for or against it. It is to make sure that the protections that residents of this county need are in the bill,” McKay said in favoring a casino position that would have ensured that the county and its voters have the final say through a ballot referendum.  

The state's 2020 gaming law, which made Norfolk, Bristol, Danville, Portsmouth, and Richmond eligible for casinos, stipulated that before a state gaming license could be issued, municipal ballot referendums presenting the details of the resort development to city voters were necessary. For the casino to move forward with construction, a simple majority was required.

State lawmakers enacted legislation to qualify Petersburg after Richmonders rejected bids for a casino twice. Once more, there was a local referendum.

McKay worries that Fairfax's general opposition to a casino could be interpreted as "arrogant" and persuade certain southern state legislators to impose a casino on the county. According to state fiscal analysts, a casino in Northern Virginia would generate a significant amount of tax revenue for the state—possibly more than the five others put together.