Virginia leaders in Fairfax County have recently discussed a bill that would give the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors “the authority to put a casino referendum on placing a casino in Tysons Corner,” according to a WJLA local news report.
Senator Dave Marsden introduced Senate Bill 675 earlier this month. SB 675 was passed through two Richmond committees despite opposition from concerned residents.
Those concerned that a local casino could potentially affect the community in a negative way met with the Board of Supervisors Legislative Committee.
One Vienna resident noted that no member of the community was involved in proposing a new casino, something “that should make people pause.” Other community concerns involved possible “extortionary cost in terms of infrastructure needs,” along with concerns regarding crime, the impact a casino could have on local businesses and the question of how a neighborhood casino could affect the value of homes sitting in close proximity.
However, Senator Marsden said he is confident that adding a local casino could generate tax revenue for the city and county.
In related news, Comstock Companies recently unveiled plans to build a casino close to the Wiehle-Reston East Metro Station. For the project to move forward, a law needed to be passed by the Virginia General Assembly to bring the matter of a new casino to voters on the ballot.
Two bills were introduced earlier this year that would bring the topic to voters. Williams, along with State Senator Dave Marsden, pitched those bills in January.
Marsden told local news that he was not aware of the referendum bill Williams proposed at the time that he pitched a similar bill.
Though skill games are now banned in Viriginia, the state’s Lottery Board recently gave Danville’s Caesars Virginia casino an operating license for its temporary casino location, which opened this spring.
Caesars said it expects its permanent casino to open in 2024. Caesars Virginia is the third casino to take up resident within Virginia’s borders.
