Vegas Sands Abandons Casino Plan for Texas Resort Prior to Council Vote due to Community Protests
"Hold up, Texas! Las Vegas Sands is giving it another shot!"
Las Vegas Sands continues to push for commercial casinos in Texas, with their latest target being Irving. Despite tossing a cool bundle and Miriam Adelson snagging a major share in the NBA's Dallas Mavericks, the company's dream of Texas casino paradise remains elusive.
One glimmer of hope is the upcoming Irving City Council vote on rezoning the land for the project, as it falls under their jurisdiction.
Mark Bookenheide, Senior Vice President of Las Vegas Sands Corporation, has asked city leaders to vote on the proposal, emphasizing the need to disregard the destination resort and gaming aspects due to the current gaming legislation status in Texas and local concerns.
Since they're convinced a non-gaming destination resort isn't economically viable, a smaller hotel might be the initial plan.
The Irving Planning and Zoning Commission approved the project earlier this week, causing quite the ruckus among residents who attended the meeting. Some of them voiced their displeasure, stating they don't fancy living in a mini Vegas and strongly oppose any casino instillation.
Interestingly, Las Vegas Sands has already scratch-off the casino component from its proposed "destination resort" plans for its own Irving property. Yet, the rezoning adjacent to the city-owned Texas Stadium site has raised eyebrows, fueling concerns about future gambling endeavors.
Over the years, Las Vegas Sands has faced numerous obstacles in its quest for Texas casinos, including legal challenges and accusations of improper collaboration with the Irving-Las Colinas Chamber of Commerce. Moreover, public skepticism and localized resistance have not waned despite statewide support for casinos.
Stay tuned for more updates on this rollercoaster ride of Texas casino shenanigans! 👀💪💰🎰🍻
Enrichment Data (for those who crave deets):
Following several twists and turns, Las Vegas Sands (LVS) is persistently trying to make Texas its gaming playground, with Irving being a prime location. Here's the nitty-gritty:
- Irving City Council Vote and Rezoning: The Irving City Council approved rezoning in March 2025 for high-intensity mixed-use development near the former Texas Stadium site[1]. The rezoning permits commercial and entertainment infrastructure adjacent to LVS-owned land at State Highway 114 and Loop 12. However, the removal of the casino component from LVS's proposed "destination resort" plans for its own Irving property[5] has stirred concerns over potential future casino-related development.
- Legal Challenges and Accusations: In April 2025, Irving resident Ada Pimentel filed a petition for pre-suit discovery, alleging improper collaboration between the Irving-Las Colinas Chamber of Commerce and LVS. The accusations include conflict of interest, lack of transparency, and a possible backroom deal to sell the Texas Stadium land to LVS without public disclosure or competitive bidding[1][4]. Pimentel’s legal team seeks to question chamber representatives under oath about their dealings with LVS[5].
- Public and Official Responses: Irving Mayor Rick Stopfer denied negotiations to sell the Texas Stadium site, stating any sale would require council approval and comply with state law[5]. The support for casinos is there, as indicated by a January 2025 poll showing 73% of Texas adults support legalizing destination resort casinos[2], but localized pushback against perceived opaque negotiations remains a significant hurdle[1][4]. The Irving-Las Colinas Chamber of Commerce maintains it acted properly, although specifics about its communication with LVS remain undisclosed[1][5].
1.The Irving City Council has a forthcoming vote on rezoning land designated for Las Vegas Sands' proposed project, located in Irving.2. Mark Bookenheide, Senior Vice President of Las Vegas Sands Corporation, has requested city leaders to disregard the gaming aspect of the project, due to current Texas legislation and local concerns.3. Despite the removal of the casino component from its Irving project, some residents fear that Las Vegas Sands may pursue other casino-related ventures in the future.4. Despite statewide support for casinos, public skepticism and localized resistance, especially towards perceived opaque negotiations, have persisted as major hurdles for Las Vegas Sands' plan to establish a casino in Texas, much like what can be found in Las Vegas.
