It's the rare constituent who tells him they want a casino in the county, said Alcorn. Fairfax County Supervisor Walter Alcorn, who represents the Reston area, said putting a casino along the Silver Line is a waste of the region’s most valuable real estate. Marsden, though, said Richmond's rejection of a casino creates an opportunity for Fairfax County to fill the void.Ĭasino opponents are unmoved. Referenda for a casino in Richmond and a slots parlor in Manassas Park failed in November with roughly 58 percent of voters saying no in both cities. The push for a northern Virginia casino comes at a time when voters have been skeptical. But we have to be practical, not naive,” he said, adding that Virginia should not leave its wealthiest region out of the equation when it comes to gaming revenue. The county needs to be realistic about the need for change and the revenue potential that casino gambling could bring, said Marsden. But it’s facing a crunch in its commercial tax base as demand for office space has diminished post-pandemic. It would also bring union jobs and the labor lobby is expected to be on board, he added.įairfax County has been the state’s economic engine for decades. Placing a casino and entertainment on the Silver Line will be a boon to Dulles Airport, which got its own Silver Line station last year, Marsden said. While that area makes the most sense to Marsden, the legislation would allow the county to pick a site anywhere near one of the Silver Line Metro stations, including Reston. Marsden's preferred location is Tysons Corner, a suburb of the nation’s capital just a few miles from the Maryland border and a center of wealth that’s already home to successful high-end shopping malls and retail. This year, though, his proposal envisions far more than a casino and includes a convention center, concert hall, hotel, and other amenities. He introduced similar legislation last year that went nowhere. David Marsden, D-Fairfax, is planning to re-introduce legislation that would allow Fairfax County to hold a referendum on building a casino. (AP) - With casinos popping up on Virginia's southern border, some lawmakers now want to explore whether wealthy northern Virginia should get in on the action.

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