By Shirleen Guerra | The Center Square
Gov. Abigail Spanberger vetoed legislation that would have required Fairfax County to move forward with a casino referendum, saying the proposal would override local decision-making and depart from how gambling projects have been approved in Virginia.
Senate Bill 756 would have added Fairfax County to the state’s list of eligible casino locations and required the county to hold a voter referendum, despite opposition from the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors.
In her veto statement, Spanberger said casino development in Virginia has historically been led by local governments and not imposed by the state.
She wrote that local governing bodies “should lead on proposed casino development” and pointed to opposition from Fairfax County officials.
“In Fairfax County, the Board of Supervisors has explicitly opposed this legislation, and an overwhelming majority of the General Assembly members who represent Fairfax voted against it,” she wrote.
Spanberger said the bill would weaken local authority over major development decisions.
“This effectively precludes local input and eliminates local decisions. While this legislation specifically affects only Fairfax County, it would set a precedent to bring casino referendums to other localities where the local governing board may similarly oppose such an effort,” she said.
Under current law, once the General Assembly designates a locality for a casino, local officials must proceed with a referendum. Spanberger said that structure depends on local support and should not be used to force action in a county that has already declined to pursue a project.
She also raised concerns about oversight, writing that Virginia lacks a unified regulatory framework for gambling and that a consistent structure is needed to ensure transparency, accountability, safety and public confidence.
Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell, the bill’s sponsor, said the veto blocks what he described as a major economic opportunity for Northern Virginia.
In a statement, Surovell said the legislation passed with bipartisan support in both chambers and was backed by regional labor unions and the Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce.
He said the project could have generated thousands of good-paying, well-benefited construction jobs and additional long-term hospitality and entertainment positions tied to a casino development in Tysons.
Surovell also said Virginia residents currently spend “hundreds of millions of dollars every year” at casinos in neighboring states, including Maryland and West Virginia, generating tax revenue outside the commonwealth.
He pointed to what he described as an independent analysis by EY projecting a proposed venue could generate about $1.5 billion in annual economic activity and thousands of jobs in Maryland, adding, “we just handed them another win.”
A state fiscal analysis of the legislation previously found no anticipated impact unless a project proceeds following voter approval, reflecting that revenue and cost outcomes depend on whether a casino is ultimately built.
Fairfax County officials opposed the measure, citing concerns about traffic, infrastructure demands and whether the project aligns with long-term development plans in Tysons.
The veto blocks the proposal for now and prevents Fairfax County from being added as a casino-eligible locality unless lawmakers revisit the issue in a future session.
The veto underscores the divide between state-level economic development efforts and local government authority over land use decisions.
