Las Vegas Sands Ups Ante in Push for Texas Casinos

Article by : Erik Gibbs Aug 2, 2024

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Las Vegas Sands, a leading casino operator with connections to the Dallas Mavericks, is ramping up its campaign to garner support for the legalization of gambling in the Dallas region. There is no doubt that this is a move of great support to all interested parties.

According to the Dallas Morning News (DMN), Andy Abboud, Sands’ Senior Vice President (SVP) of Government Relations, met with officials from Dallas, Fort Worth, Irving, Arlington, and Farmers Branch on Tuesday. The North Texas Commission and the Texas Association of Business organized this meeting, which was held in Hurst. It represents a significant step in the ongoing efforts to assess the potential impact of legalized gambling in Texas.

Prominent attendees included Arlington Mayor Jim Ross, Irving Mayor Rick Stopfer, and Dallas City Council Member Chad West of District 1. According to West, Farmers Branch Mayor Terry Lynn was also in attendance. Despite his personal misgivings about gambling, West recognizes the necessity for Dallas to prepare for possible legislative changes.

West stated, “I’m personally not a gambler, and I don’t really want to be. But I think it’s an industry with an incredible economic impact opportunity. I unequivocally believe Texas will legalize gambling, and because of that, I think we have a fiduciary duty as representatives to be prepared for that.” However, West also acknowledged that such changes are unlikely to happen in the current legislative session.

The City of Irving is already positioning itself for a potential casino, with Sands having acquired 108 acres near the former Dallas Cowboys stadium site, as reported by The Dallas Morning News.

An economic study conducted by Rice University’s George Zodrow suggests that the legalization of gambling in Texas could significantly boost the state’s economy by $13 billion, creating 70,000 permanent jobs and 185,000 construction jobs. The Dallas-Fort Worth area alone could see an estimated $34.7 million increase in tax revenues, according to the Dallas Business Journal.

Sands plans to establish two destination resorts in the Dallas-Fort Worth area and at least five more across the state if gambling is legalized, according to DMN. The company has already made substantial investments in the Lone Star state. with key figures such as Miriam Adelson and Patrick Dumont actively supporting the pro-gambling campaign. Adelson has previously invested millions in lobbying efforts to promote the cause.

However, legislative attempts to legalize gambling in Texas have repeatedly encountered obstacles, as reported by The Dallas Express. For gambling to be legalized, a constitutional amendment would be required. Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick has expressed doubts about the viability of pro-gambling legislation, citing a lack of support among Senate Republicans.

The Texas Republican Party platform ratified earlier this year their position. The group stated, “We oppose any expansion of gambling, including legalized casino gambling.”

Historically, gambling has faced significant challenges in Texas. Following the ban on gambling in Galveston in 1957, numerous casino operators and managers relocated to Las Vegas, signaling the end of a prominent era of gambling in Texas, according to Texas Monthly.

In June 1957, authorities gathered enough evidence to permanently close 47 businesses on Galveston Island, destroying many slot machines and gaming tables by discarding them into the bay.