Potential Sands Casino in Irving, Texas, Faces Local Backlash, Uncertain Future

^{A Planning and Zoning Commission meeting in Irving, Texas, got contentious over whether or not the city should rezone the area for a resort casino and other promised development on the gamble that Texas would change their gambling laws to allow it. (Image: City of Irving)}

A rezoning proposal in Irving, Texas, is facing backlash as thousands of residents have signed a petition opposing the plan that could allow Las Vegas Sands to build a casino there – provided such a development became legal in the state.

More than 30 Irving residents also spoke out against the proposal in person at a Planning and Zoning Commission meeting held last week, ahead of a vote planned for Monday, March 17. 

Irving Officials Move Fast to Court Sands

The proposed zoning changes would create a high-intensity mixed-use area out of a 182-acre tract that is almost entirely owned by an entity related to Las Vegas Sands. The rezoning would allow for a destination resort with one or more luxury hotels, would allow for casino gaming “if authorized by the Constitution and laws of the state of Texas,” and would also include an arena with a minimum capacity of at least 15,000 seats.

The Irving City Council voted 8-1 last month to send the issue to the Irving Planning and Zoning Commission, and justified the haste as a way to stay in the driver’s seat in an effort to attract a major Sands development to the suburb, located just west of Dallas. 

“The applicant, they’re getting pursued by other people, and we know that,” Councilman Kyle Taylor said at the February meeting. “And I think this timeline is something to show that we are serious about it, to the largest private landowner in our city.”

Las Vegas Sands is primarily owned by Miriam Adelson, who is also the largest shareholder in the Dallas Mavericks NBA franchise. Adelson’s son-in-law, Patrick Dumont, is the COO of Sands and the governor for the Mavericks. 

That has led to reasonable speculation that Sands’ push to develop in Irving has two purposes: both to build a casino, if allowed, and to create a new, adjoining arena for the Mavericks. 

Sands Behind Efforts to Bring Casino Gaming to Texas

Sands has been the driving force lobbying for casino gambling to come to Texas. However, those efforts may be faltering, particularly after a significant group of Republicans in the Texas legislature announced that they are firm 'no' votes on both casino gambling and online sports betting.

Still, Sands’ interest in building in Irving may at least quash rumors that the company wants to move the Mavericks to Las Vegas. That thought turned into a full-fledged conspiracy theory after the Mavericks made the shocking decision to trade superstar Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers in early February – a move so unpopular and inexplicable to many fans that some accused Dumont of trying to tank the team’s popularity ahead of a move to Vegas.

“The Dallas Mavericks are not moving to Las Vegas,” Dumont told the Dallas Morning News after those rumors. “That is the answer, unequivocally. The Dallas Mavericks are the Dallas Mavericks and they will be in Dallas.”

Irving is probably close enough to count as remaining in Dallas for most fans. But Irving residents may not be interested in the casino that would come with the arena, and haven’t been afraid to say so.

“Texas hasn’t even legalized gambling yet, it’s still up in the air,” Irving resident Clayton Draughon, who created the Change.org petition that now has over 3,000 signatures, said during a planning and zoning work session last week. “So why are we setting the precedent of rubber stamping a gambling zoning designation now, instead of waiting to see how the state will handle it?”

But if casino gaming isn’t approved in Texas, the future of the development – stadium and all – is in doubt. Sands has said that the project is only financially viable with a casino attached, echoing a refrain heard from other casino developers across the country.

If the Planning and Zoning Commission approves the zoning changes on Monday, the Irving City Council could make a final vote on the proposal on Thursday, March 20.