Thousands Sign Petition Opposing LVS Texas Casino Plan
Although commercial casino gaming is prohibited in Texas, thousands of residents in Irving, a suburb of Dallas, still signed a petition opposing Las Vegas Sands Corp. (LVS) from constructing a casino in the area in the future.
The petition on Change.org aims to stop the Irving City Council from consenting to a suggested mixed-use entertainment district that would incorporate a casino if the Texas legislature permits gaming. As of midday Friday, it had nearly 3,000 signatures.
LVS has suggested redeveloping a 259-acre site close to the old Texas Stadium, which was the home of the Dallas Cowboys from 1971 to 2008. The casino giant acquired the property, referred to as PUD 6, in mid-2023, shortly before Miriam Adelson, the widow of LVS founder Sheldon Adelson, obtained a controlling interest in the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks.
Designs in Texas
LVS has historically targeted Texas, viewing it as the ultimate opportunity for commercial gaming growth in the US, with the Dallas Fort Worth metroplex being the preferred site for a future resort. The business has invested millions lobbying state politicians in its effort to influence policy change.
In January, Casino.org stated that Texans were inundated with TV commercials advocating for the legalization of commercial casinos by an LVS-supported political action committee, the Texas Destination Resort Alliance.
Nevertheless, it remains uncertain if the message is being understood. On Friday, numerous casino demonstrators attended a town hall meeting to express their dissent during a presentation regarding the proposed project by LVS executive Andy Abboud. Numerous individuals held signs stating "No Casino in Irving."
The planning and zoning commission in Irving is set to decide on the proposed development's approval this Monday. Kera News reports that if it progresses, it will be presented to the city council on March 20.
LVS plans to create a comprehensive destination resort featuring a hotel and convention center, retail outlets, entertainment venues, and a 15,000-seat arena for the Dallas Mavericks. A council member referred to it last month as “possibly the most transformative project in Irving’s history.” The company has stated that the project will not move forward without a casino.
‘Initiate Steps’
The petition, initiated by local citizen Irving Droughton, calls on residents to act against the rezoning as it “endangers the safety, stability, and future of our city.”
"Instead of relying on a casino that preys on our most vulnerable citizens, we should focus on developments that truly benefit Irving—like small businesses, green spaces, and family-friendly attractions,” the petition says.
Naturally, not all residents in Irving oppose the casino. An opposing petition named “Support the Rezoning of PUD 6 for a Destination Resort & New Home for the Mavericks” had collected 90 signatures by Friday.
In Texas, permitting casino gaming necessitates a constitutional amendment that must receive endorsement from a two-thirds supermajority in the legislature and subsequently gain approval from a majority of voters in a state referendum.
