Laws to permit a on line casino in Northern Virginia in Tysons has once more been launched within the Richmond capital. Nevertheless, this 12 months the measure has a brand new, extra highly effective major sponsor.
A conceptual rendering of what a mixed-use on line casino resort growth may appear like in Virginia’s Tysons. Laws to permit a industrial on line casino in Northern Virginia was launched this week within the Richmond capital. (Picture: Comstock Corporations)
On Tuesday, Virginia Senate Majority Chief Scott Surovell (D-Fairfax) filed Senate Invoice 982. The measure seeks to qualify a selected space inside Fairfax County as a permissible location for a industrial on line casino. Presently, casinos with slot machines, dwell vendor desk video games, and sports activities betting can solely function in Portsmouth, Bristol, Norfolk, Danville, and Petersburg.
Surovell takes the lead for a on line casino in Northern Virginia, particularly, Tysons, a census-designated place between the enterprise hubs of McClean and Vienna, from state Sen. David Marsden (D-Fairfax), who unsuccessfully championed the push final 12 months.
SB982 seeks to provoke a countywide referendum asking voters in the event that they help a on line casino inside a one-quarter mile of the Spring Hill Metro station. Surovell’s laws has been directed to the Senate Committee on Basic Legal guidelines and Expertise for preliminary consideration.
Comstock Has Large Desires
Marsden started the search to deliver a on line casino to Northern Virginia in partnership with regional actual property developer Comstock Corporations. Marsden and Comstock CEO Chris Clemente consider Fairfax is approaching a property tax disaster and {that a} on line casino, lodge, and conference middle would assist ease rising charges on householders.
Together with Surovell resuming the NoVA on line casino legislative struggle, Comstock unveiled its imaginative and prescient for what a on line casino may appear like within the area. Comstock suggests constructing an enormous mixed-use growth spanning as a lot as eight million sq. toes on 35 acres.
The full funding, Comstock says, might strategy $6 billion. The on line casino would occupy simply 5% of the power, with bigger options being a 600-room five-star luxurious lodge, a 6K-seat performing arts theatre, and the county’s first main conference middle.
The event blueprint additionally consists of residential flats, retail purchasing, eating places and bars, out of doors public greenspace, and an immersive theater. Comstock says it will associate with a on line casino operator to run the lodge and gaming facility. Renderings of the on line casino part ooze Wynn Resorts’ signature curved lodge.
Odds Lengthy
Surovell and Comstock’s eagerness is met with an abundance of opposition, together with from the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. Quite a few householders associations, native municipality governments, and former federal staff have additionally expressed hostility to a on line casino.
MGM Resorts will presumably foyer towards SB982 to guard its pursuits in neighboring Maryland the place it operates MGM Nationwide Harbor simply throughout the Potomac River.
Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chair Jeff McKay (D), a lifelong resident of the county, maintains that the native leaders are towards a on line casino. The supervisors have devoted a portion of the county’s web site to the on line casino push.
Tysons will not be declining, it’s rising. The on line casino invoice is a distraction that ought to by no means influence essentially the most helpful actual property within the Commonwealth. It additionally creates uncertainty that would make attracting extra main employers tougher,” the supervisors wrote.
“Fairfax County has an bold, community-support complete plan for transit station areas round all Silver Line stations. A on line casino will not be in these plans, and brazen makes an attempt by builders and on line casino operators to purchase essential authorities approvals is a idiot’s errand at finest, and unethical at worst,” the assertion concluded.
