Plans to build a casino in the suburbs of Washington DC are under threat due to backlash from members of the intelligence and defense communities who believe the gambling facility would present a threat to national security.

A letter signed by 109 former prominent people in these sectors explained how the area of Tysons is just ten minutes from the offices of national security groups like the CIA and the National Counterterrorism Center. Other sensitive nearby organizations include prominent contractors like Raytheon and Lockheed Martin.

can become targets of blackmail if they rack up gambling debts

The letter sent to lawmakers in Virginia on Monday describes how staff in these sectors can become targets of blackmail if they rack up gambling debts. A previous Defense Technical Information Center report outlined how at least seven American citizens have sold classified information due to gambling-related financial pressures.

Comstock Holding Companies is trying to develop the casino and has spent over $2m lobbying local officials to try to get a casino referendum bill under consideration.

Senate Bill 675 didn’t make much progress last year, with the Senate Committee on Finance and Appropriations pushing the legislation to next year’s legislative session, which begins in January.