Casino Bill's Delay To 2025 Praised By Vienna Town Council

VIENNA, VA — Vienna town officials are praising the decision of a Virginia Senate subcommittee to delay a Tysons casino referendum bill until 2025.

The Virginia Senate Subcommittee on Resources voted 4-0 to carry over Senate Bill 675 to the 2025 legislative session rather than advancing it to the full Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee. The bill by state Sen. Dave Marsden (D-Burke) bill sought to put a referendum on the ballot to authorize a casino for Tysons.

Vienna Mayor Linda Colbert and Hunter Mill District Supervisor Walter Alcorn were in Richmond to testify against the bill, arguing that a casino in Tysons would have a negative impact in the region.

"Opposition to the casino bill is one of the Vienna Town Council’s top legislative priorities," said Colbert in a statement on Thursday. "Supervisor Alcorn and I expressed strong opposition to the legislation today during a Senate Finance Committee meeting this afternoon, and the bill was tabled for a year for further study."

Vienna Town Council has included casino opposition in its 2024 legislative agenda. The Town Council's legislative agenda stated that a casino would negatively impact neighboring Vienna's quality of life, cause increased traffic, add costs for local businesses and hurt public morals.

Vienna Town Council members, residents and others sent calls and emails to state legislators to oppose the bill. Vienna Town Council members Sandra Allen, Roy Baldwin, Jessica Ramakis and Howard Springsteen were also present in Richmond for Virginia Municipal League Day.

"We are grateful to the Vienna community for signing petitions and sending emails and letters to the Town Council and Virginia legislators opposing the casino," said Colbert. "We are also thankful for the support we received from our legislative delegation, Del. Holly Seibold (D-Vienna) and state Sen. Saddam Salim (D-Falls Church)."