Las Vegas casino operator eyes Irving for new development
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Texas Stadium opened in 1971 and the Dallas Cowboys played there until the end of the 2008 season. It was imploded in 2010. Photo: Ronald Martinez/Getty Images
The Las Vegas casino company affiliated with the Dallas Mavericks is looking to build a resort in Irving, where the Dallas Cowboys' former stadium was once located.
Why it matters: Las Vegas Sands, run by the powerful and wealthy Adelson family, has lobbied for years to get Texas to legalize casino gambling.
- Having a presence in North Texas would position Sands to expand its casino business to Texas if state leaders pursue loosening gambling restrictions.
The big picture: The Texas Constitution restricts gambling, allowing for a lottery, charitable bingo, parimutuel betting on horse and dog racing, and gambling at three tribe-owned casinos.
- Poker rooms are also open across the state, though their legality is murky.
- A statewide referendum would be required to lift gambling restrictions.
Flashback: The Adelsons bought Mark Cuban's majority stake in the Mavericks in 2023.
The latest: Earlier this year, Las Vegas Sands asked the Irving City Council to rezone almost 1,000 acres in Irving, including the site of the former Texas Stadium, so a casino and destination resort could be built there in the future.
- The "high-density" development would have corporate, retail and residential buildings and a resort with 1,750 rooms, restaurants, pools and a 15,000-seat arena or a 4,000-seat theater, per KERA.
- The company scrapped the casino and nightclub components after criticism from Irving residents.
- The City Council passed the rezoning ordinances, 6-3, last week.
Reality check: Building a development of this caliber will be a long process, requiring more approvals along the way, Irving City Council Member Brad LaMorgese said at last week's meeting.
Friction point: Legal casinos could be a boon to the Texas economy — with thousands of jobs in tow — but they also come with documented societal ills.
Between the lines: Patrick Dumont, the Mavericks' governor and Miriam Adelson's son-in-law, told the DMN this month that the franchise plans to stay in Dallas and build a "full-blown entertainment district" in the city after their lease with the American Airlines Center ends in 2031.
- "What we're saying to the city is we want to exhaust every possible option in the city of Dallas before considering pivoting to another location in the Metroplex. That's our commitment," Dumont said.
What's next: Dumont is reportedly on track to become Sands' new CEO next year.