Supporters of bringing a on line casino to Northern Virginia by means of Fairfax County have shaped a political motion committee to lift funds to bankroll their 2024 initiative.
The Tysons Nook Metro station on the Silver Line is the place a minimum of two state lawmakers in Virginia assume a on line casino ought to be thought-about. Supporters of permitting a on line casino in Fairfax County have shaped a political motion committee. (Picture: The Washington Put up)
Virginia Sen. David Marsden (D-Fairfax) plans to reintroduce laws designed to permit Fairfax County to think about a gaming referendum asking native voters to authorize a single business on line casino resort. Marsden launched an identical invoice this yr that was shortly pulled.
Marsden and others are supportive of giving the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors the best to provoke a on line casino poll query. They argue it’s time that Northern Virginia stops subsidizing Okay-12 public training in Maryland, the place casinos function. Maryland primarily makes use of its gaming taxes for public colleges.
Marsden, a longtime state lawmaker, says he isn’t essentially a fan of playing, but additionally doesn’t need Virginia’s wealthiest area to proceed playing in Maryland.
I don’t just like the lottery. I don’t like every of it. However we’ve got to be sensible, not naïve,” Marsden instructed the Related Press this week.
Del. Wren Williams (R-Stuart) says he’ll craft related laws to Marsden’s in his chamber to enhance the chances of Fairfax being designated as a permissible on line casino host jurisdiction.
PAC Shaped
Marsden and Williams are in talks with Comstock Corporations, a developer of mixed-use actual property enthusiastic about bidding to change into Fairfax’s most popular gaming developer. That’s ought to the county be afforded a on line casino alternative.
Comstock has made political contributions to Williams, a 34-year-old lawmaker who has lengthy ties to the household that owns the true property agency. Whereas Comstock is restricted to how a lot it might probably donate to Williams and others’ political campaigns, a PAC can contribute significantly extra funds.
Supporters of the Fairfax on line casino push this fall shaped a PAC referred to as “Constructing a Outstanding Virginia.” The PAC has already raised $277,000, with almost all of it coming from Comstock or folks associated to the agency.
Christopher Clemente, Comstock’s CEO, gave $25,000. Comstock’s CFO Christopher Guthrie, Normal Counsel Jubal Thompson, and EVP of Growth John Harrison every donated $2,500. Comstock SVP of Human Sources Paul Schwartz kicked in $1,000.
An internet site for Constructing a Outstanding Virginia searching for donations says nothing about backing a on line casino, however as an alternative focuses on the belongings that the development trade delivers to Virginia.
“Constructing a Outstanding Virginia is a nonpartisan coalition designed to help political causes and candidates that perceive the optimistic influence the trade has on Virginia’s economic system and the lives of Virginians,” the web site states.
The PAC, per its newest marketing campaign finance disclosure report filed with the Virginia State Board of Elections, reveals it has $17,000 money readily available after making quite a few donations to state lawmakers. Marsden acquired $24,000 in October.
A lot Opposition
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors has but to take a vote on whether or not they help contemplating a on line casino. Native boards in county cities alongside the Silver Line the place Marsden and Williams search to permit a on line casino have come out in opposition with ordinances opposing the gaming drive.
A state examine performed in 2019 decided {that a} on line casino resort in Northern Virginia might generate $155 million yearly in tax income, almost double what the Virginia Joint Legislative Audit and Evaluation Committee concluded for a on line casino in Richmond. Richmond voters final month rejected for a second time a proposed on line casino within the capital area.
