Spanberger vetoes casino bill

Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger on April 9 vetoed controversial legislation that would have permitted a casino in Tysons.

The General Assembly approved a bill in March that would have authorized the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors to call a public referendum on the development of a casino in Tysons.

Spanberger said the bill would set a precedent against local decision-making on gambling.

“Local governing boards should lead on proposed casino development, as has happened in every locality that now has a casino,” Spanberger said. “But 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.”

Spanberger also expressed concerns that Virginia lacks a statewide entity to regulate the gambling industry. “A unified regulatory structure is essential to ensuring transparency, accountability, safety, and public confidence,” she said.

Related story: General Assembly sends casino bill to the governor

Spanberger noted that, “since the General Assembly first authorized casinos in 2020, all of the five cities where they now operate – and the one where multiple local referendums failed – have actively sought the authority to hold referendums and have strongly advocated for their projects.”

Existing law requires that once the General Assembly asserts a locality is eligible for a casino, she said, the local governing body must petition the court for a referendum.

This process worked for the six localities that wanted casinos, she said, “but in the case of a locality where the local governing body opposes such an effort, the impact of this legislation is to supersede local authority.”

Spanberger said Senate Bill 756 “would further restrict local decision-making by enabling legislators in Richmond to assign the specific location of the casino.”

“This effectively precludes local input and eliminates local decisions,” she said. “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.”

Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chair Jeffrey McKay issued a statement thanking Spanberger for vetoing SB 756. “This veto demonstrates the governor’s respect for local authority and being responsive to those we represent,” he said. “Our residents have been clear in their overwhelming opposition to a casino in Fairfax County.”