Dallas Mavericks' owner hopes for Texas gaming legalization as he eyes new Vegas-like arena

Mark Cuban, the owner of the NBA's Dallas Mavericks, has his eyes set on a new spectacle for the franchise: a Vegas-like arena in Dallas. Although casino gambling and sports betting are currently illegal in the state of Texas, it doesn't seem like an impossible feat for that to change soon, as 30 states now allow sports betting in the U.S. 

"My goal, and we’d partner with Las Vegas Sands, is when we build a new arena, it’ll be in the middle of a resort and casino," Cuban told The Dallas Morning News. "That’s the mission."

State lawmakers are already working to move forward with legislation that would amend the state constitution to put legalized gambling and casinos on the ballot as early as November 2023.

Texas State Senator Carol Alvarado of Houston filed a resolution to create a Texas Gaming Commission to regulate sports betting and issue licenses for up to four casino and resort destinations in the state’s major metropolitan areas.

"I welcome him to the arena of this discussion,” Alvarado told the aforementioned media. "Having somebody like Mark Cuban on board certainly gives a boost of enthusiasm to the effort. Hopefully, he’ll use his clout and resources to help get us across the finish line."

As of now, while Cuban awaits a decision from the Texas legislation to legalize sports betting, the Mavs will remain at the American Airlines Center through the end of their lease. The Mavericks’ 30-year lease to play at the venue expires on July 28, 2031. That gives Cuban and the Mavericks eight and a half years to figure out whether building and moving to a new arena is feasible.

With the possibility of voters approving casino gambling and sports betting in less than a year, the prospect of the Mavericks at the heart of a casino and resort destination reminiscent of Las Vegas becomes even more enticing.

A lot of pieces will have to fall into place if Cuban’s latest vision is to become a reality. For now, the Mavericks’ owner is biding his time. "It’ll take seven years to do everything right, so 2024 is when we’ve got to make a decision," Cuban told The News. “There’s no rush yet. There’s no urgency at all.”