- The chair of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors says the county won’t conduct a aggressive bid for a on line casino even when state lawmakers authorize the county to have a on line casino
- Fairfax owners and civic teams are overwhelmingly against a on line casino
The chances favor Fairfax County in Northern Virginia being made eligible for a on line casino growth. Native officers say state lawmakers are losing their time.
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors opposes legislative efforts in Richmond to designate the county for a on line casino. However lawmakers are urgent ahead with a invoice that may give county voters the ultimate say on slots, desk video games, and sports activities betting in Northern Virginia. (Picture: Shutterstock)
Designated members of the Virginia Home of Delegates and Senate will quickly meet to iron out legislative variations relating to including Fairfax to the state’s listing of eligible host localities for slots, desk video games, and sports activities betting. Whereas each chambers handed Senate Invoice 756, the payments differed of their referendum necessities, licensing charges, and income allocations.
The Senate model, led by the invoice’s authentic sponsor, Senate Majority Chief Scott Surovell (D-Fairfax), requires a easy majority of voters in Fairfax to approve of a on line casino for the mission to maneuver ahead. The Home substitute, which the Senate rejected, included a double referendum the place countywide voters and a majority of voters throughout the magisterial district the place the on line casino is being focused greenlight the event.
The Senate invoice proposed splitting the related tax income from a on line casino in Fairfax 50/50 between the county and state. The Home model seeks a $150 million upfront payment, with Fairfax receiving $75 million, however the state retaining 75% of the next gaming tax.
Virginia’s 5 different casinos paid solely $15 million upfront licensing charges.
A lot Ado About Nothing
Each variations of Virginia SB756 would permit the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors to area bids for a on line casino.
The statute says the “eligible host locality … shall choose a proposed on line casino.” It doesn’t mandate or drive the county to conduct such a aggressive bid.
Talking with WTOP, Jeff McKay, the chair of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, stated even when the chambers discover frequent floor on SB756 and Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D) indicators or permits the invoice to change into legislation in one in every of its present varieties, the chance will go untouched.
I can’t assist it going to referendum. I’m not going to topic my residents to vote on one thing that we all know is a nasty deal,” stated McKay.
“That is frankly only a dangerous monetary deal for the residents of Fairfax County. This perpetuates a sample in Richmond the place income advantages the state. This can be a nice deal for the state. They get 75%. We get 25% and all of the related issues with a on line casino,” stated McKay.
Referendum Imposition
McKay says he’s involved that the convention committee tasked with finalizing SB756 and securing each Home and Senate assist may embrace a mandate requiring Fairfax County to conduct a aggressive on line casino bid and current the matter to voters.
At a minimal, the native authorities ought to have the authority to find out if a referendum is held,” McKay stated.
As On line casino.org reported beforehand, each Caesars Leisure and Wynn Resorts are monitoring SB756 and have expressed early curiosity within the attainable alternative.
