Casino Legislation Update

Contributed by Reston Association

Dear Reston Association Members,

Last week, legislators in Richmond took action to amend SB 756, commonly known as the Fairfax County Casino Bill. As a member of the Reston Association, you should be aware of these changes as they could have a profound impact on life in our community.

While earlier versions of this bill limited the site location to Tysons Corner, amendments made to the bill last week that removed that limitation. Other amendments include:

• Magisterial District Majority: The requirement for the casino to be approved by a majority of voters in the specific district where it would be located was removed from the bill. Only a countywide referendum is now required.

• Mandatory Labor Protections: Requirements for prevailing wages and union hiring contracts were removed.

• Enhanced Financials: The $150 million licensing fee and the 40% tax rate (which would have significantly benefited the county) were scaled back to align with current state law.

• Flexible Location: There is no longer a requirement for the casino to be in Tysons. It could realistically be placed anywhere in Fairfax County that meets the square footage requirement – including in Reston.

• Development Size: Any gaming establishment must be part of a larger mixed-use development of at least 1.5 million square feet. Both the Reston Town Center area and Reston Station area would meet this requirement.

• Public Safety Proffer: A mandatory requirement for the developer to fund or dedicate land for a public safety facility (e.g., police or fire station) remains.

• Expiration Date: The authority to hold a referendum expires on July 1, 2029.

The bill will now be sent to the full House of Delegates for consideration.

We Need Your Help

We anticipate that SB 756 will be considered by the House as early as today or Wednesday 3/4. We encourage you to act NOW and contact members of the House to tell them to vote NO on this measure. Here are some helpful resources:

Use our sample advocacy letter to delegates or write your own. We need to let legislators know we do not want a casino in our community.

Use This Link to automatically send your message directly to 30 House leaders.

Find a list of all House delegates and their contact information HERE.

Additionally, it is likely the Governor is discussing this issue. If it passes the House, it will go to her desk for signature or veto. To make your voice heard in the Governor’s office contact: Abigail.Spanberger@governor.virginia.gov.

The more our legislators in Richmond know about our opposition to a casino, the more likely they are to vote against it. We need your advocacy now to help defeat this measure and protect our community.

Why This Matters

Why is Reston Association opposed to a casino?

• Unlike any other Virginia jurisdiction targeted for a casino – our community has not asked for this. In fact, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors formally voted to oppose a casino in its legislative program; advancing SB 756 disregards local governance and land‑use planning.

• This bill conflicts with adopted community planning: the Reston Master Plan, shaped through extensive public input, never contemplated gaming; a casino would undermine the community’s long‑term, mixed‑use vision.

• It is also seen as an economic risk to a proven engine: Reston’s economy is built on major employers and innovation, and research shows that companies like them could our area a “no‑go zone” if a casino is built—jeopardizing well-paying jobs, investment, and commercial tax base.

The last day of the legislative session is March 14. We encourage you to make your voice hard on behalf of the Reston community.

Sincerely,

Travis Johnson

President

Reston Association