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Will More Casinos Come to Virginia in 2026? The Odds Aren’t Good

In recent years, Virginia, which was once one of the states with the fewest gaming options, has welcomed new types of commercial gambling.

Five casinos, retail and online sports betting, and slot-like historical horse racing (HHR) machines at off-track betting parlors and The Rose Gaming Resort are all part of the commonwealth's current offerings. Only Norfolk, Portsmouth, Bristol, Danville, and Petersburg have typical casinos.

But two additional cities want to join. Local leaders in Winchester and Roanoke say they want the authority to think about opening a casino. Additionally, state legislators from Fairfax County claim that a casino in Tysons would assist reduce steadily rising property taxes and bring in a sizable amount of state tax income.

Chances of Longer Casinos

The two-month 2026 session of the Virginia General Assembly begins on January 14 and ends on March 14. With Virginia Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell (D) poised to introduce legislation to establish a sixth casino license in the commonwealth and allocate it for Fairfax County, gaming is anticipated to be taken into consideration.

The issue with Surovell's measure is that it appears that a sizable majority of Fairfax County voters are against the concept of a casino. The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, along with community organizations and homeowner associations, has officially opposed attempts to introduce table games and slot machines to the Tysons region.

Virginia's gaming legislation mandates that a license be issued to a host municipality only in cases where a local referendum demonstrates majority support, even though state legislators have the authority to designate Fairfax for a casino. According to public surveys, wealthy locals are strongly opposed to a casino. Because of this, it is unlikely that a casino will open in Fairfax very soon.

Winchester and Roanoke have a good chance of obtaining casino rights. As of right now, no state member has indicated that they would support legislation to authorize casinos in those cities in addition to the present five.

Roanoke is collaborating with a lobbying group to find a sponsor, but even if one is found, the General Assembly process would likely be time-consuming because lawmakers from both parties have stated that the five casinos should be given time to establish themselves before additional licenses are taken into consideration.

NOVA Casino

Virginia levies a progressive tax on casino earnings, with 18% applied to earnings under $200 million, 23% applied to earnings up to $400 million, and 30% applied to earnings over $400 million. Public education, municipal governments, and economies are all supported and stimulated by the casino taxes.

As people from Northern Virginia travel across the Potomac River to MGM National Harbor in Oxon Hill, it is estimated that millions of dollars in lost tax revenue are currently going to Maryland. The wealthiest casino in the nation outside of Las Vegas is MGM National Harbor.

Supporters of bringing a casino to Fairfax argue that Virginians are subsidizing Maryland's education program since Northern Virginia does not have one.