How Political Games and Big-Money Casino Lobbyists Are Keeping It Alive

When the Fairfax Casino Bill failed in the Virginia House, it should have been the end of the story. The public opposed it. Lawmakers rejected it. The conversation should have been over.

But Senator Scott Surovell refuses to let go.

Instead of accepting defeat, Surovell has taken extreme measures to keep the bill alive. His first move? Punishing Senator Jennifer Boysko, one of the few Democrats who dared to oppose the casino publicly.

Within days of Boysko voting against the bill, she was removed from key committee assignments—a clear act of political retaliation. Not long after, she issued a public apology, signaling that intense pressure was being applied behind the scenes (Cardinal News).

And now, despite the casino bill being defeated, Surovell has vowed to “keep the conversation going”—ensuring that the proposal lingers like a bad debt. Why? Because casino developer Comstock has poured $1.5 million into Virginia politicians, ensuring that this bill never truly dies.

A Casino That Will Destroy Fairfax Businesses

If this casino were actually a good deal for Fairfax County, why does it require backroom deals, political purges, and millions in lobbying money to stay alive?

The answer is simple: this casino isn’t for us—it’s for them.

If built, the Fairfax casino will function like a black hole, pulling in consumer spending that would otherwise support local businesses.

• Instead of dining at a family-owned restaurant, customers will eat at the casino’s buffet.
• Instead of shopping at a local store, gamblers will spend their money at the casino’s in-house retail shops.
• Instead of going to a movie or a concert at Capital One Hall, people will gamble inside a corporate-owned, billion-dollar complex.

This is called the substitution effect, and it devastates small businesses.

We’ve seen this happen before. In Maryland, Detroit, and Atlantic City, casinos promised economic prosperity but left behind shuttered businesses, struggling communities, and taxpayers footing the bill.

Casinos Drain Local Economies Instead of Growing Them

In Baltimore, the Horseshoe Casino was supposed to be a game-changer. It was going to bring jobs, economic development, and increased tax revenue. But what happened?

• Crime increased in the surrounding areas.
• Local restaurants and bars saw a decline in customers.
• City services didn’t improve—the new tax revenue didn’t trickle down.

Instead of revitalizing the city, the Horseshoe Casino kept customers inside its doors, spending money on-site rather than circulating their dollars in the local economy (Maryland Roads Report).

The same thing happened at Maryland Live! Casino in Anne Arundel County. It was built next to a major shopping center, Arundel Mills Mall, yet instead of boosting mall traffic, it hurt surrounding businesses. Patrons no longer shopped at the mall as frequently—they spent their money inside the casino, where everything they needed was already available.

This is exactly what will happen in Tysons Corner if a casino is built.

Fairfax County Doesn’t Need This Casino—But Surovell Does

Scott Surovell knows this. Chairman Jeff McKay of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors even admitted the county never asked for this casino.

Yet, Surovell and his allies continue pushing it because big-money donors like Comstock have invested millions to make it happen.

Casinos don’t create wealth—they concentrate it in the hands of a few, while small businesses, homeowners, and taxpayers get left behind.

If this proposal comes back next year, voters need to remember exactly who is selling out their community.