Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson commented on the future of casino gaming in the city during his annual interview with the Dallas Regional Chamber of Commerce. He outlined some of the challenges operators may have to face, warning them that the legalization of casino gaming is not the only thing they need to keep in mind.

Johnson reflected on this possibility in the wake of the deal between Las Vegas Sands and the Dallas Mavericks which saw the casino operator acquire land in Irving.

While Texas doesn’t currently allow commercial casino gaming, activists have sought to change that for years, with some spending millions on lobbying. The recent acquisition of the Mavericks, which is still subject to approval from the NBA, has sparked theories that the coming of casino gaming may be on the horizon.

Obviously, casino gambling is not legal in Texas, right? It’s not. And so, it would need to become legal by a change in state law.

Eric Johnson

While the legislature will ultimately decide whether casino gaming can happen at all, Johnson believes that the conversation doesn’t need to start there.

The Council Would Decide if a Company Can “Plop a Casino”

Johnson explained that consulting the city council is a major thing casino operators need to consider. He pointed out that even if Texas legalizes Tier III gaming, Dallas’ council would be the one deciding where companies can develop a casino or whether they get to develop a casino at all.

The folks I sit around the horseshoe every day, I can guarantee you, are gonna have to have a say in where you plop a casino in the City of Dallas, or whether you get to plop a casino in the City of Dallas.

Eric Johnson

Operators would need to secure a myriad of permits to get a casino project approved, which is why the Dallas mayor believes that discussion with the city council is an important thing operators should keep in mind.

Proponents of casino gaming argue that its legalization would bolster tourism and have a huge positive impact on the local economy. The owner of the Dallas Mavericks, Mark Cuban, has been one of the biggest supporters of casino gaming, saying that it would attract many visitors to The Lone Star State.

In any case, many believe that the outlook for casino gaming remains bleak despite Las Vegas Sands’ active efforts to change that. As of the time of this writing, only tribal operators are allowed to run casinos in the state.

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In a significant pushback against New York City Mayor Eric Adams’ ambitious plan to expedite casino approvals in New York City, Community Board 4‘s land use committee unanimously rejected the proposed amendment on December 13. 

Community boards, such as CB4 representing Hell’s Kitchen and Chelsea, play a crucial role in ULURP, offering advisory opinions on land use plans. Delores Rubin, an outspoken board member, expressed criticism toward the city officials, stating that they had been shaming city planning for relinquishing all responsibilities to the state. She underscored the significance of community input in the decision-making process, reported The City, a non-profit digital news organization.

Hell’s Kitchen resident David Korman echoed these sentiments, condemning the proposed amendment during a video conference, asserting that ULURP was designed to democratize the planning process. Korman argued that the amendment would exclude both the community and city planning professionals from the decision-making table.

The Planning Department justifies the removal of ULURP for casino proposals, citing the duplication of the state’s review process. Under the proposed changes, each casino proposal would be subject to scrutiny by a newly established Community Advisory Committee (CAC). This committee, composed of six members, including the Mayor, Governor, borough president, and local state representatives, aims to conduct public meetings and approve casino applications before reaching the state’s Gaming Facility Location Board.

City Planning spokesperson Casey Berkovitz defended the amendment, stating it is a more effective utilization of time and resources within the city. The goal is to create a level playing field for New York City applicants to compete with proposals elsewhere in the state, according to Dan Garodnick, director of the city planning agency.

However, concerns about the potential impact of gaming facilities on local communities have surfaced. Critics argue that the amendment may allow for large hotels without city planning oversight and could be detrimental to neighborhoods.

Despite these concerns, Mayor Adams, supported by City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams, emphasized the economic opportunities associated with casinos, citing a potential annual revenue of $5.3 billion. 

While approximately a dozen casino proposals are in the pipeline, only nine are specific to New York City, including locations in Midtown Manhattan, Coney Island, The Bronx, and Queens. Notably, some proposals, like the one near Citi Field, may still require state legislature approval due to parkland considerations.

The fate of the amendment now rests with the City Planning Commission, where questions about its potential drawbacks and the necessity of ULURP for certain cases have already been raised. If approved, the proposal will proceed to the City Council and Mayor Adams for final consideration.

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