Sands’ Texas casino bid narrowly secures zoning approval
The vote came at 2.30am local time after several hours of discussion, per WFAA. Two approvals were granted – one to change the overall site to a high-intensity mixed-use development and another to switch two specific tracts within the development from transit-oriented mixed-use community to high-intensity mixed-use.
With the commission’s approval, the matter will now proceed to the Irving city council Thursday.
Tuesday represented the first step for a project that faces a long road ahead. In addition to a casino, it would also include either an arena with at least 15,000 seats or a theatre with at least 4,000 seats and a resort with at least 1,750 rooms, according to plans presented to the city council in February.
Given the arena possibility, there has been speculation that the Adelson family, which controls both LVS and the Dallas Mavericks, could relocate the team to the new site if it is built. The proposed development is eight miles away from the Mavericks’ existing arena. It is also the onetime site of Texas Stadium, which was the home of the Dallas Cowboys before being demolished in 2010.
Texas casino expansion unlikely for this session
Gaming lobbyists have descended on Texas for several sessions now, but expansion efforts have been fruitless thus far. Currently, lottery and tribal casinos are the only forms of gaming in the state. Commercial casinos and sports betting are not legal despite increasing investment in efforts to win their approval.
LVS controlling shareholder Miriam Adelson made more than $13 million in political donations ahead of this session. That was up substantially from the $3.3 million spent on the 2023 session.
As of now, it seems all but certain that 2025 will be another failed expansion campaign. According to the Texas Tribune, several pro-gambling legislators were replaced with opponents this year. Three more who did support expansion last session have flipped.
The group of legislators penned a letter to representative Ken King, who chairs the house state affairs committee, telling him that any gambling expansion was “dead on arrival”. In Texas the legislature meets only in odd years, meaning that casino hopes are likely sidelined until 2027. LVS’ chances of following through with the project would likely be impacted if a casino licence is not available.
Local opposition also growing
In addition to legislative malaise, the project also faces pushback from local residents. A Change.org petition opposing the zoning changes currently has over 3,600 signatures. Dozens of residents also spoke at the commission meeting, mostly in opposition.
According to WFAA, LVS senior vice president of government affairs Andy Abboud was booed when taking the podium Tuesday. However, some key officials are in favour of the development, including Irving city councilman Mark Cronenwett.
“We have a vision in Irving for a premier destination in that spot ever since Texas Stadium was demolished,” Cronenwett argued during the meeting, per WFAA. “It will drive visitors to our city. Our tax base will increase immensely. This will be a tremendous opportunity for the city of Irving if we can do it and if it doesn’t actually cause Irving to suffer in a way that residents will be really hurt by.”
Dumont set to take over as LVS CEO
By the time the 2027 session rolls around, LVS itself will be under new leadership. The company announced on 6 March that current CEO Rob Goldstein will step down from the role in March 2026 and transition to an advisory capacity through March 2028. A 20-year-plus veteran of the company, Goldstein was the first to serve as CEO after the death of LVS founder Sheldon Adelson in 2021.
Patrick Dumont, current president and COO, will become CEO following Goldstein’s transition.
Mavericks fans are well acquainted with Dumont, who also serves as governor of the team. Both he and general manager Nico Harrison have been vilified for trading All-NBA guard Luka Doncic to the Lakers for forward Anthony Davis in early February. Doncic was a beloved local figure, having been drafted by the Mavericks and having led them to the NBA Finals last season.