Two community coalitions in Northern Virginia are uniting against a renewed initiative to construct a casino in Tysons, citing potential economic, social, and traffic implications as lawmakers plan to revisit the topic in 2026.

The No Fairfax Casino Coalition and the Tysons Stakeholders Alliance held a webinar aimed at rallying residents in Fairfax County, where legislative attempts to advance casino legislation have failed three times since 2023.

Paula Martino, president of the Tysons Stakeholders Alliance, remarked that attempts to legalize a Tysons casino continue in Richmond despite local resistance. “Senator Surovell has committed to reintroducing casino legislation in 2026. You might wonder who is advocating for this? Certainly not the voters of Fairfax County,” she stated.

Martino mentioned that past initiatives were championed by state senators Dave Marsden and Scott Surovell. Bills were either withdrawn or defeated in committees during 2023 and 2024. A similar bill passed through the Senate in 2025 but did not succeed in the House of Delegates. She also acknowledged opposition from supervisors Walter Alcorn, Jimmy Bierman, Kathy Smith, and Rodney Lusk, crediting Lusk with preventing the bill’s passage last year.

Casino developer Comstock has financially supported the effort, contributing $105,000 to Republican candidate Winsome Earle-Sears and $100,000 to Democrat Abigail Spanberger via a political action committee and its CEO. Neither candidate has openly expressed a stance on the matter.

Martino noted a survey commissioned by casino opponents indicating “widespread” disapproval throughout the county, although Surovell claims to have seen polls indicating support.

Critics of the project’s economic assertions voiced skepticism during the webinar. Surovell claimed the casino could yield $1.2 billion in annual revenue and $232 million in state taxes. Andy Pavord, CEO of the Federal Consulting Alliance, argued that those figures seemed exaggerated and uncertain, questioning, “That’s a substantial amount, but what will the costs be?” He deemed the projections “a highly risky gamble.”

Pavord asserted that the national casino sector is stagnating due to oversaturation and competition from online gambling and sports betting. “This is not a growing industry,” he noted, adding that few establishments outside of Las Vegas or Atlantic City achieve $1.2 billion in yearly revenue. “The expenditure at the casino is money that won’t be spent at other businesses,” he stated.

Further concerns were raised regarding traffic, wages, and public safety. Sally Horn of the Greater Tysons Citizens Coalition pointed out that Tysons already ranks as the most congested area in the nation. She estimated a casino would draw 25,000 visitors daily and dismissed the notion that commuters would rely on the Metro, labeling that assumption as “nonsense.” She elaborated, “Most gamblers won’t risk carrying cash or winnings on public transport.”

Horn also highlighted the correlation between casinos and increased crime rates. “A clear and well-documented link exists between augmented public safety risks and casinos,” she stated. She raised alarms over issues like human trafficking and problem gambling. “It’s as addictive as opioids, cocaine, and heroin, and Virginia is facing a serious problem with gambling addiction, which is rising,” she said.

Horn indicated that casino and hospitality workers in the area typically earn less than $30 an hour, which does not meet the local living wage. “The assertion that permanent jobs with a living wage in Fairfax County will materialize clashes with the current wages in the casino and hospitality sectors,” she noted.

The coalitions intend to advocate directly to lawmakers when the General Assembly reconvenes next year. They are scheduled to present at a Joint Subcommittee meeting on October 20 in Richmond, as legislators explore the establishment of a Virginia Gaming Commission.