Published on: March 16, 2026, 02:32h.
Updated on: March 16, 2026, 02:32h.
- Fairfax County urges Virginia Gov. Spanberger to reject casino legislation
- The proposed law would allow a specific property in Tysons to host a casino
- Fairfax has not requested a casino designation from state lawmakers
The Board of Supervisors in Fairfax County did not seek a casino from the Virginia General Assembly, yet now has the opportunity for one.
On Saturday, the Joint Conference Committee for Senate Bill 756 reached an agreement that satisfies both the Virginia Senate and House of Delegates. This bill, currently with Governor Abigail Spanberger (D), designates a specific site in Fairfax County as a potential location for a commercial casino, which would include slot machines, live dealer games, and a sportsbook.
In contrast to five other approved areas for casinos—Bristol, Danville, Norfolk, Petersburg, and Portsmouth—Fairfax County has neither requested nor shown interest in a gambling operation. The Board of Supervisors has consistently opposed the idea of a Las Vegas-style resort.
Following the movement of SB756 to Spanberger’s desk, the Fairfax Board of Supervisors formally urged the governor to veto this casino bill.
Request for Veto by Spanberger
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors has consistently criticized Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell’s (D-Fairfax) efforts to enable a casino in Tysons. In December, the Board clearly opposed any casino in its 2026 Legislative Program, a document outlining the county’s legislative preferences.
The official statement from the county expressed opposition to any legislation that would authorize a casino in Fairfax County without a formal request from the Board of Supervisors.
After the passage of SB756, Fairfax Supervisor Walter Alcorn (D-Hunter Mill) penned the county’s plea to Spanberger urging her to veto the bill.
We did not request [a casino]. We do not want it. I urge Governor Spanberger to veto SB756,” Alcorn stated on the county’s official website.
Should Spanberger sign SB756 into law, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors would then be permitted to call for bids for casino development. The successful bid would subsequently be presented to the county’s electorate through a local referendum. If the majority approves, the project would then require licensing from the Virginia Lottery Board.
Action from County Unlikely
At this stage, it appears unlikely that the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors would pursue the casino opportunity if approved. SB756 does not mandate the county to conduct a competitive bidding process or a local referendum.
An earlier draft of the compromise would have allowed the state to approve a temporary casino, comparable in size to MGM National Harbor, until a referendum was conducted by the county. Surovell indicated this was to encourage cooperation from the county with the new law.
Delegates from the House representing Fairfax opposed the idea of a temporary casino without a referendum provision. This pushback led to negotiations that ultimately reinstated the referendum requirement.