MGM Resorts invested over $755,000 in lobbying efforts to oppose both a potential Northern Virginia casino and skill gaming machines in the commonwealth during 2023. The gaming company directed these funds primarily toward two initiatives.

The company spent approximately $500,000 on public relations efforts opposing a proposed casino in Tysons, Virginia, and allocated an additional $222,000 for Richmond-based lobbyists. This opposition targeted state Sen. David Marsden's (D-Fairfax) legislation that would have authorized a casino in Tysons, as well as Senate Bill 212, which aimed to legalize certain skill gaming machines.

The Tysons casino proposal faced significant resistance from multiple groups, including:

• Fairfax County Board of Supervisors
• Local homeowners associations
• Municipal governments
• Over 100 former CIA and intelligence community officials

MGM's lobbying efforts also supported Governor Glenn Youngkin's veto of the skill gaming legislation after the General Assembly rejected his proposed modifications, which included:

• 35-mile buffer zones from existing gaming facilities
• Half-mile restriction from churches and daycares

MGM's investment in opposing Virginia gaming expansion appears strategic, as MGM National Harbor remains one of its most valuable properties:

• Second-largest MGM gaming floor outside Macau (159,000 square feet)
• 2,500 slots and 160 live dealer tables
• Generated $825 million in gaming revenue in 2023
• Consistently ranks among top-performing U.S. casinos outside Las Vegas

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