Marsden argues a casino would reinvigorate the local economy

The pro-casino political action committee Building a Remarkable Virginia aims to reintroduce legislation during the 2024 General Assembly to allow the construction of a new casino in Fairfax County. However, Reston residents stress concerns surrounding crime.

State Senator Dave Marsden (D-Burke) supports Comstock Holding Companies’ casino proposal alongside State Senator Scott Surovell (D-Mount Vernon) and sees it as an opportunity to reinvigorate economic growth. 

One of Marsden’s ideals upon opening the casino would be reversing reductions in office property values since the pandemic.

“We have a lot of empty buildings [now]. Our industry for my entire life has been our proximity to the District of Columbia. Now, while that’s not eliminated, it’s been greatly reduced by the commercial real estate, which is all the revenue that we’re no longer going to be getting and the fact that office buildings are going down in value.”

According to Marsden, a casino would help return property values to normal, as well as help fund public projects through taxation.

Regarding deficits in funding for public projects, Marsden stressed concerns regarding a lack of funding for the Metro. Due to a deficit in ridership during the midst of the post-pandemic recovery period, Marsden stressed that Metro would require increased ridership and public funding to continue operating.

“We have a $700 million Metro funding shortfall. Fairfax County and the State of Virginia’s bill is going to go way up. I don’t know the exact number yet,” said Marsden. “We’ve got additional expenses coming in that we never thought we would, but the pandemic killed the ridership on the Metro. We’re in a tough situation there.”

Marsden also feels that a casino in one of the two proposed localities of Reston or Tysons Corner would help stimulate Metro ridership, particularly along the Silver Line, as both would be within walking distance of a Metro stop. Additionally, he argued that the project could attract consumers from wealthier Washington D.C. suburbs.

“This will help with Silver Line travel, and it will open up Tysons/Reston to the wealthiest parts of Maryland (such as Potomac, Bethesda, Chevy Chase) and Northwest D.C. to some extent,” said Marsden.

Marsden also emphasized his interest in adding a convention center or concert venue to the project to stimulate further regional growth.

“If you locate it in Tysons, we need to combine it with a conference center, which Fairfax County does not have, or an entertainment district,” said Marsden.

When asked about another regional casino, MGM National Harbor, Marsden argued that the location is difficult to access when taking the Beltway due to heavy traffic. Additionally, he argued that MGM contributes only to Maryland’s economy despite benefiting from Virginia residents.

“We’re losing $150 million a year to MGM. We’re paying for Maryland schools, not ours,” said Marsden.

The organization Citizens Opposed to Reston Casino (CORC) formed in opposition to the project as some Reston residents are concerned with increased crime that could result from the project.

In information provided to the Fairfax County Times, Terry Maynard, a CORC representative, said that proponents of the effort are not considering the long-term consequences of a casino.

“What no one has done in the Virginia legislature is look at the social impacts of opening a casino—with or without a hotel and conference center—anywhere in the state, including Reston. And it is not an easy task,” said Maynard.

CORC argues that crime will increase as a result of excessive gambling and references the 2006 study, Casinos, Crime, and Community Costs, by David Mustard and Earl Grinols, which reported a steady increase in crime following the construction of a casino despite a temporary reduction in crime after a casino first opens.

“Most factors that reduce crime occur before or shortly after a casino opens, whereas those that increase crime, including problem and pathological gambling, occur over time” according to the study (Mustard, Grinols, 2004).

Additionally, during an interview with the Fairfax County Times in October, State Senator Jennifer Boysko echoed her residents’ concerns.

“I don’t believe that the residents of Fairfax County, specifically those that I know in Reston, want a casino,” said Boysko.

The Vienna Town Council also released a statement to the Fairfax County Times against the Tysons proposal, saying it opposes resident’s values.

“The Vienna Town Council is unanimously opposed to a casino in Tysons. A casino in Tysons would not align with the community values in Vienna. With the location in such close proximity to the Town of Vienna, we are very concerned with the harmful economic and wellness impacts to our residents,” read the statement. 

Given that Virginia is a Dillon Rule state, Marsden must convince the General Assembly that a casino in a county the size of Fairfax’s would be a good idea. Afterward, Fairfax County residents will have the opportunity to vote on the issue in a referendum. Voters recently defeated referendums in Manassas Park and Richmond.

“My job because we’re a Dillon Rule state is to give my county options,” said Marsden. “I don’t like gambling, I don’t like express lanes, I wish we would just pay for everything with what we’ve got. But we have to realize the world we’re in is changing.”