PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY, Va. (7News) — The Rose Gaming Resort in Dumfries opened Friday in Prince William County to much fanfare. Off-track horserace betting along with various video gambling games, a hotel, and several restaurants the focus.
To understand why, in part, casinos are popping up in Virginia, we have to look at changing economics along with a 2019 study estimating that people who live in the Commonwealth spend around 100 million dollars a year at out-of-state casinos.
Virginia State Senator Dave Marsden believes that number is closer to 150 million dollars.
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“I think it’s a problem. Either you compete or you pay the cost of not competing,” said Senator Marsden.
Marsden is now creating legislation that would bring a major casino to the Tysons area including a conference center, concert venue, and table games, along with an estimated 300-400 million dollars in annual tax revenues.
Keep in mind that MGM at National Harbor brought in a whopping 824 million dollars in tax revenues in fiscal year 2024, according to the Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Agency.
State Senator Marsden told us he doesn’t like competing with other states over casinos and has asked countless constituents what are the alternatives.
“What else is there? And their answer is I don’t like casinos but there must be something else and I said would you please tell me what that is,” stated Marsden.
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Senator Marsden stresses bringing this form of entertainment to Fairfax County may very well be necessary in the years to come since there are concerns associated with the county’s three primary tax revenue drivers: commercial and residential property taxes along with the car tax. The issue is residential property and car taxes are considered very high in Fairfax County.
Marsden concluded, “The whole issue here becomes broadening our revenue stream. We have so relied on those three things, and they’ve worked well for us but I don’t know if that’s going to entirely be the case.”
In terms of legislation for Tyson’s area casino – if everything goes according to plan it will introduced this next legislative session and if approved wouldn’t be here for years.
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