Bishop Declines Casino Advocate’s Invitation To Play Bingo

ARLINGTON, VA — The bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Arlington has declined an invitation from a casino advocate to accompany him to a church in Northern Virginia to see people gambling at bingo.

“I invite Bishop Michael Burbidge to join me at the Epiphany Men’s Club (held at Epiphany of Our Lord Byzantine Catholic Church) for Tuesday Night Bingo on October 22nd, so he can see how one can wager $500 at a Catholic Church Bingo Night,” said Ben Tribbett, president of the Virginia Players Alliance in an Oct. 14 release.

A diocesan spokesman noted that Epiphany of Our Lord Byzantine Catholic Church is not in the Catholic Diocese of Arlington. Byzantine Catholicism is different from Roman Catholicism.

Tribbett was responding to a recent Patch article that reported comments Burbidge made during an episode of The Walk Humbly Podcast, in which he said there was no need for a casino in Northern Virginia.

Related: No Need For Casinos In Northern Virginia: Bishop Michael Burbidge

“If you're having a friendly game of cards, and you lose a quarter, it's not going to be that big of an impact,” the bishop said. “But if you're taking $500 or so to the casino, and you end up losing it all, that $500 was supposed to be for other purposes. Now we can’t do what we’re supposed to do.”

The passion for gambling risks becoming an enslavement and addiction that is a threat to one’s freedom, the bishop said.

Tom Shakely, chief communications officer for the diocese, commented Wednesday on Tribbett’s invitation. He provided the following statement, which he said was “our final engagement on this topic.”

"Bishop Burbidge declines the invitation of the Virginia Players Alliance. As Bishop Burbidge observed in his recent Walk Humbly Podcast episode, and as the Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches, what may begin as a simple passion for gambling or sports betting may over time become an enslavement. As gambling and sports betting have become commonplace in America, bishops and priests have been among the nation's first responders in working to address the familial, financial, and spiritual wounds that many experience as a consequence of gambling and sports betting addiction. Addiction is always a threat to our freedom, and this is particularly true for addiction to forms of gambling that may risk our financial health and wellbeing or that of our families."

Related: Casino Bill Should Be Rejected By Fairfax Supervisors: Former Lawmaker

“Gaming is already extremely accessible with online options through sports wagering and the Virginia Lottery, three casinos in Maryland within an hour of Virginia, and two in West Virginia,” Tribbett said, in response to Patch’s article. “A Tysons casino would return hundreds of millions of tax dollars to Fairfax County residents, allowing for enhanced services for the same parishioners Bishop Burbidge represents or real estate tax that the community would certainly welcome.”

A political consultant and former professional poker player, Tribbett has been handing out flyers on behalf of the Virginia Players Alliance at community events around the area over the last year.

Tribbett formed the alliance in November 2023, about two months before Sen. Dave Marsden (D-Burke) reintroduced legislation in the Virginia General Assembly aimed at giving the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors the authority to put a casino referendum on a future ballot.

Related: Tysons Casino Supporters, Detractors Turn Out At ViVa! Vienna

Marsden has said publicly that he would like to see an entertainment district built in Tysons, with a performance space and conference center anchored by a casino.

The Northern Virginia Democrat first introduced casino legislation during the 2023 legislative session, but quickly withdrew it in the face of opposition. Earlier this year, the Senate Committee on Finance and Appropriations voted to hold the bill over to the 2025 session.

Since 2019, Tribbett's company, Pocket Aces Consulting LLC, has received $1,898,073 from political action committees in Virginia for providing campaign-related services, such as direct mail marketing and social media, according state financial fillings reported by the non-profit Virginia Public Access Project.

Pocket Aces' customers include Virginia Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell (D-Alexandria), who has been a vocal supporter of bringing a casino to Fairfax County, and Sen. Louise Lucas (D-Portsmouth), chair of the Senate Committee on Finance and Appropriations. That was the committee that held over Marsden's casino referendum bill to the 2025 legislative session.

Read all of Patch's reporting on Comstock Companies' plan to build a casino on Metro's Silver Line in Fairfax County at Silver Line Casino.