Casino Opponents Applaud Divided Board's Opposition To Gaming Proposal

MCLEAN, VA — Members of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors struggled at their Tuesday meeting to reach a consensus on the best way to represent their position regarding any casino legislation coming out of Richmond during the next legislative session.

At first, the supervisors unanimously approved the addition of a letter to its 2026 legislative package written by Chairman Jeff McKay (D-At-Large) to leaders in the general assembly stressing the need for necessary protections for the county in any casino legislation that emerged from Richmond.

"These include a required voter referendum, a significantly better financial deal for the county, and maintaining local land use authority," McKay said, in a statement following the meeting. "Without these elements, the board would not support any casino. Folks have pushed for the board to simply be either in favor of or against a casino, however, the issue is far more nuanced. We are not happy that casino proposals are created in a vacuum in Richmond, far away from those most impacted. In other jurisdictions where casinos have been authorized, localities were part of the conversations from their onset, not during or after legislation was filed. Our board feels this is backwards — and have felt that way for years.”

Although Comstock Holding Companies has spent more than $2.5 million since 2023 in a bid to pass legislation allowing a casino to be built on Metro's Silver Line outside the Capital Beltway in Fairfax County, it has not submitted a plan for the county and public to review.

Read Patch's reporting on the plan to build a casino on Metro's Silver Line in Fairfax County at our page dedicated to the Silver Line Casino proposal.

"There are so many things that are impacting our residents, everything from health to transportation, we have to get done and one of the things that we can't get caught up on is coming back to this over and over and over again," said Supervisor Andres Jimenez (D-Mason), who chairs the board's legislative committee. "I think that with this letter, it does define a vision, but also a strategy, as you mentioned. And that strategy, we will move forward, but we will continue to work on the important issues that are affecting our residents, which there are many of."

Despite the unanimous vote for McKay's letter, Supervisor Walter Alcorn introduced an amendment to the legislative package stating that the board would oppose any casino legislation without the implementation of a statewide gaming commission, as well a tax revenue split that substantially benefited Fairfax County as opposed to the state.

"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," Alcorn's amendment said.

Although Supervisor James Bierman (D-Dranesville) supported the amendment, joking that it was sometimes best to wear both "suspenders and a belt," there was opposition from others on the board to the amendment.

"I appreciate the chairman's approach to making sure we're in control of what does happen here," said Supervisor Pat Herrity (R-Springfield), who supported the idea of an entertainment district with a casino and conference center. "I think we agree on that our bottom line is that if residents don't support a casino and referendum, the project wouldn't move forward and can't just move forward, so I won't be supporting the amendment."

Supervisor Daliah Palchik (D-Providence), who represents most of Tysons, including the site where Comstock said it plans to build a casino, supported the intent of the amendment but not the process that brought it to the board without more discussion.

Also See ...

• Anti-Casino Amendment Voted On By Fairfax Board Of Supervisors
• No Fairfax Casino Group Supports VA Gaming Commission
• Tysons Casino Bill Killed For 2025 VA Legislative Session
• $2.5M Spent By Tysons Casino Backer On Lobbyists, Donations

"I don't want us to be sidestepped, overstepped, thrown under the bus," she said. "Tysons is the economic engine of the county. We just lost Booz Allen. We need to focus and continue to make Tysons — and those of us who live, work and represent Tysons — to continue to be effective, supportive of every single individual who is there. These are tough times. … I will support this. I'm extremely disappointed in the precedent this might set for future legislative packages."

The supervisors voted 5 to 4 to add Alcorn's amendment to its legislative program, with Supervisors Pat Herrity (R-Springfield), Andres Jimenez (D-Mason), Dan Storck (D-Mount Vernon), and Kathy Smith (D-Sully) voting in opposition. The overall legislative package was adopted on a 9-1 vote, with Herrity voting "No."

After Tuesday's board meeting, several organizations released statements about the county's amended legislative package.

Tysons Stakeholders Alliance ...

"We’re encouraged to see the Board of Supervisors clearly prioritize the voices of Fairfax County residents and the long-term success of Tysons with today’s meaningful developments. The strong opposition we’ve heard from residents, business owners and community leaders matters. We hope the concerns raised today, and the clear opposition from the Tysons community, continue to shape the conversation in Richmond as policymakers consider any potential casino proposal.” [Fox5 News]

No Fairfax Casino Coalition ...

"The No Fairfax Casino Coalition is pleased by today’s decision of the Board of Supervisors to include in their legislative agenda language that clarifies its position on casino development in Fairfax County.

"The Coalition applauds this action by Supervisors to send a clear message to pro-casino interests in the General Assembly that the County isn’t asking for a casino and that no further casino development should be undertaken until the legislature enacts a statewide gaming commission. Chairman McKay's letter accompanied by Supervisor Alcorn's amendment will serve to clearly state the County's position on the matter.

"The idea of a casino in Fairfax County has been met with strong disapproval by county residents who object to the prescriptive nature of the state legislative proposals to expand casinos to Fairfax County to date and recognize that planning decisions like this are best made at the local level."

Linda Walsh, McLean Citizens Association ...

"The Board decision today to oppose casino legislation should be applauded by the community as it mirrors the views of County residents. This clear NO statement will certainly impact votes in Richmond should another “Casino” bill be introduced during the upcoming Legislative Session.

"The Board failed to represent county residents' strong opposition to a Fairfax County casino. Without a clear NO, developers and gaming groups will continue lobbying — and funding campaigns— to push for a casino bill in Richmond."