An Irving City Councilman is challenging one of America’s largest casino developers to a debate as a crucial vote on a casino project looms.

Luis Canosa (D-4) believes the Las Vegas Sands Corporation is not being honest in its bid for a development project, commonly called PUD 6, near the site of the former Dallas Cowboys stadium.

“Promises were made by the Sands spokesperson during Friday’s disastrous presentation to do dozens of town halls, with both opponents and supporters. I am hereby taking up Las Vegas Sands on their implicit offer to do a town hall with me for the citizens of South Irving. Will they deliver on their promise? Or continue building a track-record [sic] of untrustworthiness?” Canosa posted to X on March 16.

The town hall event the councilman was referring to occurred on March 14 and was the Sands’ first public engagement event since an affiliated corporation bought the PUD 6 land, as previously reported by The Dallas Express.

The town hall was the second public display of the citizens of Irving’s overwhelming condemnation of casino gambling. Over 100 sign-carrying protestors attended the event, and nearly all of the remaining members of the public who spoke indicated some concern about the development project.

A representative from the Sands said a casino development would bring billions of dollars in economic activity, 80-90k permanent jobs, and 185,000 construction jobs to the region. The representative, Andrew Abboud, also argued that a casino would be an economic engine that could drive more development and help stamp out illegal, unregulated gambling in Texas.

Although Councilman Mark Cronenwett (D-5) hosted the town hall event and three other events were scheduled before the vote, it is unclear if the Sands will act in response to Canosa.

Sands did not respond to DX for comment by the time of publication.

Casino gambling is prohibited by law in Texas. The state gaming laws can only be changed by an amendment to the Texas constitution, which requires two-thirds approval in the Texas House and Senate and the approval of a majority of voters on a statewide ballot. Although rezoning PUD6 for gaming would not immediately bring a casino to Irving, it would satisfy one step in a multi-step process that would make casino gaming possible in DFW.

The public received three weeks’ notice that the council would vote on rezoning tracts of the area for casino gaming on March 20.