The push to create a Virginia Gaming Commission in the upcoming Virginia General Assembly session comes amid renewed efforts to build a casino in Tysons.
TYSONS, Va. — Efforts are underway to establish one regulatory board to oversee gaming in the Commonwealth as conversations about a possible plan to construct a casino in Fairfax County re-enter the spotlight.
Despite frustration from supervisors, Sen. Scott Surovell, D-Fairfax County, who introduced the last Tysons casino bill plans to present similar legislation in the upcoming session, starting on Jan. 14.
“Fairfax County is currently facing a $130 million budget deficit, and they’re facing a deficit as far as the eye can see,” Surovell said. “They constantly ask us for additional authority to raise revenue, and this would present a huge opportunity. I think they’re being kind of overreactive about it and listening to a very small group of people who basically don’t want something in their backyard.”
In a 5-4 vote on Tuesday, supervisors opposed legislation in the General Assembly that authorizes a casino for the first time. There have been at least two previous attempts in Richmond, but they failed.
Supervisor Walter Alcorn said the Board never requested a casino near the Spring Hill Metro and pushed back on future plans without implementation of a Gaming Commission, and without tax revenue split that substantially benefits Fairfax County residents.
“The designation and location of a casino is inherently a major land use decision, and General Assembly intervention in Fairfax County’s land use processes would undermine decades of community consensus and economic success,” Alcorn said.
Del. Paul Krizek, D-Fairfax County, emphasized the importance of establishing the commission before expanding gaming, which includes future proposals for a casino in the Tysons area.
Krizek is preparing to introduce legislation to establish a Virginia Gaming Commission, which would include the lottery, online gambling, and horse betting. Currently, there are different entities in Virginia, such as the Virginia Lottery, the Virginia Racing Commission, and the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
“We’ve got all kinds of gambling going in Virginia, and we do not have one regulatory body,” Krizek, Chair of the Virginia ABC/Gaming House subcommittee, told WUSA9. “We need to put it all under one umbrella and one roof, and there will be synergy and cost savings as well that will accrue to the general fund.”
Krizek agreed that a casino is not appropriate in Fairfax County and believes a referendum would be required.
However, Surovell indicated pushback if the casino is not considered.
“I’m not going to support a Gaming Commission if that means other casinos lock their licenses in before the one that’s going to benefit my constituents has an opportunity to negotiate its own license and puts that into a competitive disadvantage to the others,” Surovell added.
There are five established casinos in Virginia, two of which are in temporary locations.
Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin prioritized a Gaming Commission in the last session, but it was blocked from the budget.
WUSA9 has reached out to Gov.-elect Abigail Spanberger on where she stands, but has not received a reply yet.