Sands Texas Casino Hopes Helped by Irving Zoning Vote

Posted on: March 18, 2025, 05:07h. 

Last updated on: March 18, 2025, 05:07h.

Todd Shriber @etfgodfather Read More
Expertise: Financial, Gaming Business, Mergers and Acquisitions.
  • Irving Zoning Commission approves needed zoning change
  • Sands bought land nearly two years ago

Las Vegas Sands’ still long odds of bringing a casino hotel to the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex may have shortened a bit with the help of the Irving Zoning Commission, which earlier today approved a zoning change that would permit the owners of the Dallas Mavericks to potentially build a gaming venue near Texas Stadium.

Texas Stadium
The site of the demolished Texas Stadium. The Irving Zoning Commission approved changes that could Las Vegas Sands build a casino hotel there. (Image: Dallas Morning News)

By a 5-4 vote, the zoning commission approved a pair of changes that are needed to make land across from the now demolished Texas Stadium — the former home of the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys —a viable site for a casino hotel. An entity tied to Las Vegas Sands acquired 108 acres there in July 2023.

The commission around 2:30 a.m. voted 5-4 to approve two proposals, including one that would change a 1,001-acre development area around state highways 114, 183 and Loop 12 into high-intensity mixed-used development,” reports WFAA. “The second proposal would switch two specific tracts within that development — on the northeast side of State Highway 114, across from the old Texas Stadium — from transit-oriented mixed-use community to high-intensity mixed-use.”

The zoning commission’s decision moves onto the Irving City Council, which take up the matter at its Thursday meeting.

Mavs Have Clear Ties to Texas Casino Plan

The Mavericks’ ties to the North Texas casino effort are clear as the NBA franchise is owned by the Adelson and Dumont families.

Dr. Miriam Adelson, the widow of Sands founder and former Chairman Sheldon Adelson, is the largest shareholder in the gaming company. Patrick Dumont, her son-in-law, is governor of the team. Earlier  this month, Las Vegas Sands announced that Dumont will succeed Robert Goldstein as chief executive officer in March 2026.

Interestingly and in a move that was likely not a coincidence, Sands acquired the land in question several months prior to the gaming company revealing a share sale by Adelson, which she used to finance the purchase of majority control of the team.

Prior to that transaction, former majority owner Mark Cuban said he’d like to partner with Sands on a North Texas development that would see a casino resort and a new arena for the Mavericks act as the marquee attractions.

Sands, Others Still Face Long Roads in Texas

Beyond the obvious hurdle of North Texas residents opposing the idea of an integrated resort in their area, Sands and rivals face a long road to bringing casino gaming to life in the second-largest state.

Entering this year, casino gaming and sports wagering legislation were already viewed as heavy lifts in Texas with precedent confirming getting those bills signed into law so voters could have a say on the matter is a tough task.

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick (R), long viewed as the gatekeeper standing in the way of gaming expansion in the state, has not indicated his anti-wagering views are likely to change anytime soon.

Making matters worse for operators’ Texas casino ambitions are controversies involving the state lottery, which some experts believe are death knells for plans to bring casinos and online sports betting to the Lone Star State. Sands has said that the Irving development would not be economical without the gaming component.