News Articles

Royal Flush for Opponents of ‘Casino Bill’

A House of Delegates subcommittee voted to pass by the Tysons casino bill, meaning it is dead in the 2025 VA legislative session.

Bill passed the Senate (24-Y 16-N) on Tuesday, Feb. 4.

Members of the Virginia Senate voted to advance the controversial Tysons casino referendum bill for consideration by the House of Delegates.

Senator Scott Surovell admits that the $1.8 billion in revenue that the proposed casino in the Tysons area is nothing more than speculation provided by the site developer.   

Opponents make repeated trips to Richmond to testify against the bill.

The No Fairfax Casino Coalition has sent Reaction to SB982 Chief Patron, Senator Scott Surovell's Comments during the Gaming Subcommittee meeting held on Monday, January 20, 2025 

Real issue is state underfunding of schools, they say.

Coalition seeks to ‘kill the bill;’ sponsors say Fairfax County needs the money for schools and property tax relief.

Opponents of bringing a casino to Northern Virginia’s Fairfax County took their campaign to the state capital this week where they expressed strong hostility to what the proposed developers say would be an economic driver.

The schedule included a press conference at 11:00 a.m. in the Senate Press Room. Senator Jennifer Boysko, Senator Saddam Salim, other state legislators opposing the bill and its process, as well as Fairfax County Supervisors Walter Alcorn and Jimmy Bierman and Vienna Town Mayor Linda Colbert were in attendance.  

Plans for a Tysons casino have trampled the wishes of local residents and promised jobs that may not materialize, opponents said Wednesday.

Opponents to the proposed legislation to put a casino referendum on a ballot in Fairfax County are lobbying lawmakers in Richmond. 

A proposal for a casino resort in Fairfax County’s Tysons Corner is dividing the county’s General Assembly delegation, with advocates calling for new sources of revenue to relieve pressure on local real estate taxes and opponents decrying a threat to the vibrant commercial and residential hub along the fast-developing Silver Line transit corridor.

Members of a group strongly opposed to building a casino in Fairfax County, Virginia, made the trip to Richmond on Wednesday to lobby against the proposal and express their concerns.

Comstock Holdings donated $50,000 to candidates for VA attorney general and lieutenant governor, according to the State Board of Elections.

Advocates for a referendum to allow a casino in Tysons have a formidable ally in the General Assembly this year.

Patch has a roundup of casino news and links to coverage of the proposed Tysons casino and entertainment district legislation.

A state lawmaker and a large developer are advancing efforts that could bring a casino to Tysons as part of a major mixed-use project near a Metro station. 

A new Tysons casino referendum bill will be considered by the Virginia General Assembly's 2025 session, which begins Wednesday.

Backers of the proposed Tysons casino reported spending more than $1.5 million in political contributions and lobbying efforts in Richmond.

Attendees were updated about our casino opposition efforts to date, learned about key dates on the Legislative Calendar, and details of our coalition action plan for 2025.  A replay of the No Fairfax Casino Coalition 2025 update webinar is available for you to view. 

Opponents of the proposed Tysons casino spent more than $755,000 on lobbying efforts, records show.

A letter signed by 109 past members of the defense and intelligence communities say a casino in Tysons would be a national security threat.

Fairfax County NAACP is hosting a public discussion in the Mount Vernon District about the proposed Tysons entertainment complex.

WATCH THE REPLAY HERE.

Mayor Linda J. Colbert told county lawmakers that opposing the Tysons casino was the Vienna Town Council's top legislative priority. 

In addition to donating more than $1.2 million to candidates and PACs, Comstock Holdings hired lobbyists to represent them in Richmond.

Comstock Holdings has donated more than $75,000 since the end of January in preparation for the 2025 Virginia General Assembly session.

Sen. Dave Marsden plans to file a casino referendum bill in late 2024, giving Fairfax residents a chance to vote on a casino.

On Oct. 27, the “No Casino Coalition” held a meeting in McLean, where speakers aired concerns about the possibility of a casino in Fairfax County to a crowd of more than 250 people. SB 675, a bill introduced earlier this year, would allow for a referendum allowing voters to decide if the casino would come to Fairfax County. 

Local lawmakers say a Tysons casino would undermine potential job growth and derail economic development along Metro's Silver Line.

Union workers rallied outside the Fairfax County Government Center advocating for a casino referendum bill and benefits it would bring.

The bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Arlington said the passion for gambling risks becoming an addition that was a threat to one’s freedom.

A former Virginia Congressman sent a letter to the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors calling on them to publicly oppose the casino bill.

As work to advance the Tysons casino referendum continues, opponents plan an October community forum at McLean High School.

Issue was punted to 2025 by General Assembly 

Local residents used the July 30 meeting of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors to advocate against a proposed casino in the Tysons area.

The “No Casino Coalition,” a group of Fairfax County residents who oppose a proposed Tysons casino as “unwelcome and unwanted, are now calling for the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors to publicly reject the casino’s construction by two local megadevelopers, Comstock Holding Companies and the Clemente Development Company. 

No Casino Coalition and Virginia Players Alliance offered differing opinions about their public engagement at the ViVa! Vienna festival.

Virginia Players Alliance and No Casino Coalition offer ViVa! Vienna attendees opposing opinions about the proposed Tysons casino.

Land once considered as a location for Comstock Holdings' proposed Tysons casino is listed for sale. Plans now call for a Home Depot there.

The demise of the project, a priority for the governor, set off an extraordinary round of bitter recriminations among Virginia officials.

JBG Smith's CEO declined a January invitation to meet with the lawmaker who would later prevent the Potomac Yards arena deal from advancing.

State lawmaker says it was his idea to build a casino in Tysons rather than Reston and identifies the likely casino operator. 

The study a state lawmaker quotes to justify Tysons as the "most valuable casino opportunity" in Virginia doesn't include the word "Tysons."

Patch looks at how much money the developer behind the casino proposal made in political donations from January 2022 to February 2024.

State Sen. Saddam Azlan Salim and Del. Holly Seibold update constituents at Saturday morning's town hall meeting in Vienna

The General Assembly decided to carry over a bill from last year that would allow for a casino to be built in Fairfax County along the silver line.

With declining revenues some county leaders believe a casino could help. Neighbors galvanize support against it. 

Senate subcommittee calls for study on potential impacts. 

Local lawmakers and state lawmakers are at odds over a bill in the legislature right now. 

The proposed bill includes a casino, but also a convention center, concert hall or entertainment district, hotel, and other amenities.

As casinos start to pop up on Virginia’s southern border, some lawmakers are ready to explore whether wealthy northern Virginia should get in on the action 

Virginia is considering a bill that could put a casino in Fairfax County. Northern Virginia Bureau Reporter Drew Wilder spoke with state lawmakers about the size of the potential project and where it could land. 

"My primary concern is that the Senate's proposal disregards state and local laws designed to protect the community's voice. In this issue I will layout the concerns that have been raised about this proposal both from my perspective and those raised during meetings with you, my constituents." 

The president of the Tysons Stakeholders Alliance says it is time for legislators to listen to what the people want and oppose proposals for a casino in Tysons. 

Fairfax County Federation of Citizens Associations voiced its opposition to casino bill in letter to all members of the Virginia Senate.

The president of the Reston Citizens Association tells members of the Virginia Senate to check their facts.

Bob Petrine of Reston, who was prevented from speaking out against the casino referendum bill on Wednesday, goes over the bill's math.

Former Reston 20/20 co-chair Terry Maynard examines the downside of Comstock Holdings' plans to build a casino on Metro's Silver Line.