Letter: Tysons' Casino Numbers Don't Add Up

Bob Petrine was one of the seven people from Reston and the McLean area who traveled to Richmond on Wednesday to testify before the Senate Committee on General Laws & Finance. Before the meeting started, Sen. Adam Ebbin (D-Alexandria), the committee's chair, said that no more testimony was going to be taken on SB-675.

RESTON, VA — Senator Marsden has been very consistent in his rationale for SB 675 in seeking a casino — a major entertainment center to be located in the “downtown of Fairfax County.” It’s the money!

Senator Marsden realizes that a casino will draw folks and their money away from MGM National Harbor’s tables. According to the JLARC 2019 forecast for 2025, a Fairfax County casino would generate total net gambling receipts of $595 million. This would result in $140.5 million in state gambling taxes of which about one-third or $41.6 million would be kept by Fairfax County.

Would that cover Fairfax County’s operating shortfall or dent WMATA’s $750 million operating deficit? Not really! Fairfax County’s projected share would only amount to about 0.9% of the County’s FY 2024 operating budget.

By comparison, a meals tax could generate $100 million per annum and not pressure the County’s infrastructure.

Virginia’s casino statute, as written, like the other states with casino gambling emphasizes revitalization as a driving force. Senator Marsden mentioned in his testimony today that new revenue sources must be found to supplant diminishing commercial real estate taxes already lost. I find it hard to rationalize such a view about Fairfax County. According to the 2020 US Census, the County is the fifth wealthiest county in the US, and the proposed Tysons’ location is within twenty miles of seven of the twenty-five wealthiest cities and counties in the US.

Would a Fairfax County casino add jobs? Without a doubt!

Would the permanent staff be able to afford to live near a Tysons casino. Hardly!

Would those workers use the Silver Line to travel to and from work? Perhaps!

Would casino guests and workers travel on the Silver Line in numbers that would make a difference to WMATA’s operating deficit? Please don’t make me laugh!

Are there other host localities where locating a casino would clearly have a positive impact? Certainly!

The Gaming Subcommittee vote on SB 628 to add Petersburg as a host locality is the better choice and is consistent with the intent and spirit of the statute.
The General Laws and Technology Committee should hold steady to the intent and spirit of the current statute and vote NO on SB 675.

Bob Petrine
Reston