Fairfax County casino bill passes Virginia Senate
The proposal has passed the state’s senate and now heads to the House of Delegates.
US.- A bill proposing a casino and entertainment district in Fairfax County, Virginia, has passed the state’s senate by a 23-14 vote. The proposal now heads to the House of Delegates.
Lawmakers supporting the measure say it could generate substantial tax revenue, while opponents are concerned about traffic congestion, infrastructure and social impact. A similar proposal passed the state Senate last year but didn’t make it out of a House subcommittee.
Senate majority leader Scott Surovell said that the project would generate “more revenue than all the other casinos we’ve authorized in Virginia combined,” citing a 2019 report from the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee. He said the project could feature a concert venue, conference space, hotel, entertainment, and a sports events centre.
If the proposal receives approval, voters in Fairfax County would need to approve the casino through a local referendum.
In January, The Cordish Companies and Bruce Smith Enterprise celebrated the opening of the temporary Live! Casino Virginia in Petersburg. Located off I-95, the venue has 75,000 square feet of gaming space with more than 900 slot machines and over 30 table games.
Virginia casino revenue rises in January
Revenue from the five casinos in Virginia was $81m in January, up 12 per cent year-over-year. Of the total casino revenue, slots generated $61m and table games $20m. The state collected $14.6m in taxes paid to the Gaming Proceeds Fund.
Caesars Virginia led the market with $30.5m in adjusted gross revenue (AGR): $21.8m from slots and $8.7m from table games. Rivers Casino Portsmouth posted $25.2m, with $18.5m from slots and $6.8m from table games, and Hard Rock Bristol $19.6m ($15.8m from slots and $3.7m from table games).
