By Scott McCaffrey of FFXNow.com
Critics of expected legislation that could allow a casino in Tysons dominated a Fairfax County Board of Supervisors hearing yesterday (Tuesday) on 2026 priorities for the Virginia General Assembly.
Speakers from organizations representing residents in Tysons, McLean and Reston — along with the mayor of Vienna — urged supervisors to be more explicit in voicing opposition to the proposal, which likely will return to Richmond early next year.
It was the second time in recent months critics descended on a supervisors’ meeting to press their case. This time, many touted a recent poll conducted on behalf of Freedom Virginia that showed broad opposition to a casino in the county. Casino supporters questioned the legitimacy of the polling data.
For the past two years, county supervisors have adopted a policy statement noting they haven’t requested that Fairfax join the list of localities across Virginia eligible for a casino. Casino critics say that is too vague, allowing boosters to say the supervisors have not taken a position.
“Your prior calls have not been enough,” said Sally Horn, chair of the Greater Tysons Citizens Coalition. She urged supervisors to “be more explicit” in addressing the topic.
Other speakers echoed her sentiment:
If the Board of Supervisors comes out strongly against a casino, that likely would be the end of the discussion in Richmond, Colbert said.
“We could be working on so many other good things” during the 2026 session, she said.
A number of speakers said there should be no action on gaming-related legislation until a proposed state gaming commission can be established and begin operating.
“We need to ask Richmond to take a pause,” Anderson said.
A commission would “create a single point of accountability,” said Lynne Mulston, president of the Reston Citizens Association.
“We need to make sure the framework is solid before we add more to it,” she told supervisors.
In the 2025 General Assembly session, a bill to make Fairfax eligible for a casino — with criteria that would limit the potential sites to Tysons — was patroned by State Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell (D-34). It passed the Senate but died in a subcommittee of the House Committee on Appropriations.
A year earlier, a measure sponsored by Sen. Dave Marsden (D-35) also failed.
The casino plan has been backed by Comstock Cos. and Clemente Development Co, which are seeking to include a casino in a larger entertainment district proposed along Leesburg Pike near the Spring Hill Metro station.
For a casino to become reality, state legislators need to first authorize Fairfax County as a site where a casino could be located. County supervisors would then have the option of scheduling a voter referendum, which must pass by a majority vote.
The referendum only would apply to the concept of a casino. If approved, a specific location and operator would still need to be approved, on top of the standard county zoning review that would be required for the overall development.
There were no speakers in favor of a casino at the public hearing on legislative priorities. Supervisors did not respond to any of the anti-casino comments, but could further look at the issue when the board’s legislative committee meets on Dec. 2.
A final decision on the county’s legislative package is slated for Dec. 9.
Mason District Supervisor Andres Jimenez recently took over as chair of the legislative committee after the previous chair, Braddock’s James Walkinshaw, was elected to Congress.
At yesterday’s board meeting, Jimenez didn’t reference the casino but said some of the county’s priorities for the General Assembly session include more transit/transportation and education funding; additional state support for housing, economic development and workforce development; and environmental initiatives.
While the public hearing is over, community members can still contact supervisors between now and final adoption to make the case on any issue that might be considered in Richmond.
“We will keep the record open,” Board Chairman Jeff McKay said. “We have time to take the testimony to heart.”
The 2026 General Assembly session convenes on Jan. 14 for what is expected to by a 60-day session.
A Northern Virginia native, Scott McCaffrey has four decades of reporting, editing and newsroom experience in the local area plus Florida, South Carolina and the eastern panhandle of West Virginia. He spent 26 years as editor of the Sun Gazette newspaper chain. For Local News Now, he covers government and civic issues in Arlington, Fairfax County and Falls Church.