Security, Defense Members Ink Opposition to Tysons Corner, Virginia Casino

Virginia’s budding gambling market was recently rumored to be expanding to include a casino in Fairfax County. However, influential members of the national intelligence and security community believe the juice wouldn’t be worth the squeeze.

More than 100 people signed a letter that was sent to the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, all members of the Virginia Senate and House of Delegates and the Governor, Lt. Governor, and Attorney General of Virginia on Wednesday.

An official motion for a casino has not been made in the state Senate. However, Majority Leader Scott Surovell (D-Fairfax County) confirmed with WUSA that he plans to push for a referendum to build a casino in Tysons Corner.

Hitting out at the idea

Northern Virginia and the Washington D.C. area are home to some of the most important government buildings and agencies in the country. The most relevant to the group’s opposition is the CIA headquarters in Langley, about 15 minutes from the proposed site of the casino. 

The main concerns voiced by members of the security community revolve around the increase and foot traffic and crime that are associated with preeminent gambling destinations. 

“The proximity of a Tysons casino to a significant population of government, military, and contract officials with access to highly secretive government intelligence, diplomatic, and defense information will not only attract organized crime — casinos always do — but also adversarial intelligence services looking to recruit those with such access whom they hope to blackmail,” the letter from National Security Leaders for Fairfax said.

Co-Chair Sally Horn said there is also a human element to their concerns since military members suffer from gambling addiction at two to three times the rate of the general population.

Despite those concerns, Surovell believes that the tax implications of a casino in an affluent area like Tysons would have positive effects for the local area and Virginia as a whole.

“Ever since they built the MGM casino across the river from my house, I've watched hundreds of millions of dollars from Virginia money go there and pay for their schools, and I think it's outrageous,” Surovell said.

Plans to proceed

The casino mentioned by Surovell is the MGM National Harbor in Oxon Hill, Maryland. It sits right next to the Potomac River and directly across from Alexandria, Virginia, and is about 10 miles from the White House.

Casino supporters must convince even more critics than just those in the security industry to pass their bill. Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chair Jeff McKay does not believe that Fairfax would reap enough of the benefits to justify the project.

“The local share of revenue is about a quarter of the revenue that comes in. The state is the biggest winner in these casinos and localities are left dealing with the challenges,” said McKay.

Tysons Corner is part of Fairfax County, which is one of three Northern Virginia counties that are among the five richest counties in America.

A labor union supporting the project claimed that the casino would create 5,000 permanent jobs in the area. In contrast, critics said that a casino could cause businesses in lucrative industries to move out of Tysons Corner.

Although there are plans to proceed with a proposal when the legislative session begins in a month, they would also need approval from local voters before the bill could be signed into law.