The Virginia General Assembly is facing renewed debate over legislation that would pave the way for a casino in Tysons Corner, with State Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell taking up the mantle from his predecessor. The proposal highlights a concerning pattern of special interests attempting to bypass local governance and community wishes through state-level manipulation. While proponents tout economic benefits and tax revenues, the reality is far more complex and troubling for Fairfax County residents.
The Legislative Landscape and Key Players
Senate Bill 982, introduced by Senator Surovell, would add Fairfax County to Virginia’s list of casino-eligible localities. Summary of SB 982 – Casino gaming; eligible host localities. Adds Fairfax County to the list of localities eligible to host a casino in the Commonwealth and provides that any proposed site for a casino gaming establishment considered by Fairfax County shall be (i) located within one-quarter of a mile of an existing station on the Metro Silver Line, (ii) part of a coordinated mixed-use project development consisting of no less than 1.5 million square feet, (iii) within two miles of a regional enclosed mall containing not less than 1.5 million square feet of gross building area, and (iv) outside of the Interstate 495 Beltway. The bill was referred to the Committee on General Laws and Technology.
The current bill on gaming and casino is § 58.1-4107. Eligible host city; certification of preferred casino gaming operator (https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/58.1-4107) under which Fairfax County does not qualify. Surovell argues that the casino would help keep gambling revenue in Virginia rather than letting it flow to Maryland’s MGM National Harbor (Scott McCaffrey, 2025). However, this simplistic argument ignores the fundamental transformation such a development would impose on Tysons’ carefully crafted community vision that started in 2010, and plan amendment authorized in March 2013 by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors (https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/tysons/comprehensive-plan).
A development plan built on shifting sands; the proposed casino project is being marketed as far more than just a gambling establishment. Comstock envisions a massive 6- to 8-million-square-foot mixed-use development including a performing arts venue, hotel, convention center, and housing. Yet the developer’s recent track record raises serious concerns, as evidenced by the collapse of their downtown Herndon redevelopment project (Angela Woolsey, FFXNow, 2024). More troubling, this proposal represents a direct challenge to Tysons’ existing development framework, which has followed a community consensus plan since 2010 that would be fundamentally undermined by a casino-anchored entertainment district.
National Security and Social Costs
Perhaps most alarming is the unprecedented opposition from the national security community. A group of 109 national security leaders, including 57 former CIA officials and 18 former Defense Department officials, have warned of the acute risks posed by placing a casino within easy reach of thousands of cleared personnel (Samir Ali Nomani / Fairfax County Times, 2025). Their concerns aren’t merely theoretical – historical evidence shows that gambling debts have previously motivated the compromise of classified information (Samir Ali Nomani / Fairfax County Times, 2025). The American Psychiatric Association’s classification of gambling as an addictive disorder that “rewires the prefrontal cortex” adds weight to these security concerns.
The Democratic Process Under Siege
What makes this legislative push particularly troubling is its circumvention of local authority. Unlike other Virginia localities that have pursued casino development, Fairfax County has not requested this authority. The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors has not taken a formal stance. Hunter Mill District Supervisor Walter Alcorn warned that a casino would transform Tysons’ Metro station areas into “no-go zones for major employers” (Scott McCaffrey, 2025). ​This top-down approach from Richmond represents a dangerous precedent where powerful economic interests can bypass local governance structures to impose unwanted development.​
The push for a Tysons casino exemplifies how special interests can manipulate state-level politics to override local community planning and concerns. While proponents dangle promises of tax revenue and jobs, they conveniently minimize the serious social, security, and community impacts. A recent UMASS Amherst study found that 90% of casino revenue comes from at-risk or problem gamblers, highlighting the predatory nature of this industry.
The No Casino and Yes Casino battle continues into another election year. Will the Virginia General Assembly pick politics over people? We are welcoming readers to share their thoughts. The comment deadline to get into print is due by February 10, 2025by email to info@theindependentnewspress.com and comments are open online.