Should a casino open in Tysons? Fairfax County leaders vote no

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Fairfax County leaders voted Tuesday to oppose any legislation in Richmond that would permit a casino to open in Tysons Corner.

Over the past few years, legislation opened the door to build a Las Vegas-style gaming casino near the Spring Hill Metro station.

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors met for nearly an hour to vote on whether to approve or oppose a potential casino. One supervisor said he was "really tired of talking about casinos."

Multiple supervisors voiced their opinions on the casino. One supervisor said Fairfax County residents would reject it, "as every poll has shown." Another supervisor said that while he's wasn't saying there should be a casino, "We shouldn't take that option off the table."

"We can't have business decisions where a company goes: 'Oh, there's a casino in Tysons, so we don't want to locate our business in Tysons,'" another supervisor said.

Tuesday's meeting did not make a final decision to approve or disapprove of the casino; rather, it was the board's way of telling the Virginia General Assembly that they want to be in control of asking for it.

The amendment passed in a 5-4 vote in which the majority of Fairfax County leaders officially opposed the casino in Tysons Corner unless two conditions were met: a statewide gaming commission would be formed and the county gets its fair share of tax revenue that would come from the casino.

Virginia State Sen. Scott Surovell is one of the members who wants the county to build the casino.

"Their opinion is something that will be taken into account but the legislature, they don't control the legislature," Surovell said. "They don't decide Virginia law. They're a very small part of this equation."

The Virginia General Assembly is back in session Jan. 14. Once back in session, they'll have the power to write and pass a bill to bring the casino to Tysons Corner.