Irving, Las Vegas Sands drop casino plans following community backlash

IRVING, Texas - Early Friday morning, Irving City Council approved a plan for Las Vegas Sands to move forward with a development at the site that used to be home to Texas Stadium.

The vote came after the company told Irving officials to remove plans for a destination resort and casino after facing major backlash from residents earlier this week.

Nearly 200 residents signed up to speak at the council meeting on Thursday, with all residents opposing the casino.

Representatives for the developer addressed the council, emphasizing that Texas gaming laws would need to change before a casino could be built. They emphasized the uncertainty surrounding state legislative action on gambling expansion.

Some residents argued that a destination resort would only benefit the city economically if it were supported by state gaming laws.

In response to concerns, the council voted in two separate 6-3 decisions to amend the zoning proposal, removing the casino component. However, the council did not ban the possibility of a casino being built at the site if state laws change in the future.

Las Vegas Sands has been working to prepare to apply for a license in the event that Texas lawmakers and the public approve of expanding legalized gambling in the state.

A motion by Irving City Councilman Luis Canosa to prohibit gambling as a use for the site in the future failed.

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