Las Vegas Sands Restarts Effort To Bring Casinos to Texas

Article by : Erik Gibbs Apr 1, 2024

• 
• 

In December 2023, Las Vegas Sands, the company that secured a controlling interest in the Dallas Mavericks, stepped into the limelight once more with its latest initiative: a petition to legalize casino gambling in Texas.

The Texas Destination Resort Alliance, established in 2021, is backing this petition. Its vision is to introduce a plethora of luxury offerings, ranging from resorts to entertainment and fine dining, to bring these amenities closer to Texans by advocating for the expansion of casino-style gambling in the state.

This latest move demonstrates Las Vegas Sands’ persistent efforts to shift Texas’ stance on gambling. In 2022, the company launched the Texas Sands political action committee (PAC), earmarking $2 million to lobby for the legalization of casino gambling.

Amidst formidable hurdles, the company stands resolute in its mission. Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick has cast doubt on garnering ample support from Republicans in the state Senate for such a legislative endeavor.

Nonetheless, Miriam Adelson, representing Las Vegas Sands, remains vocal about her ambitions to introduce casino gambling to Texas.

In a significant development, State Representative Charlie Geren (R-Fort Worth) proposed HJR 97 in February, outlining a framework for amending the Texas Constitution to allow for casino resorts. This proposal lays the foundation for potential legislative reforms in the future.

Adding weight to the discourse, the Chickasaw Nation, operators of the Winstar Casino in Oklahoma and proprietors of Lone Star Park in Grand Prairie have endorsed the idea of casino resorts in Texas.

Moreover, the imminent launch of the Choctaw Landing Casino and Resort in Oklahoma’s southeast corner provides further momentum to the ongoing discussions surrounding gambling legislation in Texas.

Amid these endeavors, there are concurrent initiatives advocating for sports betting, championed by the Texas Sports Betting Alliance.

Spearheaded by former Governor Rick Perry, who serves as a spokesperson for the alliance, support is thrown behind the legislative proposals of Texas Senator Lois Kolkhorst and Representative Jeff Leach.

Echoing this sentiment, Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, aligned with the Texas Sports Betting Alliance, advocates for the implementation of regulated gambling.

Jones stresses the importance of granting Texans the autonomy to determine whether they prefer regulated gambling or the continued operation of out-of-state betting platforms in the shadows.

However, the path to legalizing gambling through a constitutional amendment demands substantial legislative backing. Approval by two-thirds of both the House and Senate is imperative, followed by endorsement from voters in an election.