Las Vegas Sands seeks North Texas support for casino legalization ahead of 2025 session

Las Vegas Sands is actively seeking support from business and city leaders in North Texas for the legalization of gambling and the development of destination resorts, including casinos.

This initiative comes ahead of the 2025 legislative session, as the company, whose leadership owns the Dallas Mavericks, aims to bolster its lobbying efforts in the region.

Andy Abboud, Senior Vice President of Government Relations for Sands, met with leaders from Dallas, Fort Worth, Irving, Arlington, Farmers Branch, and Visit Dallas at a meeting organized by the North Texas Commission and the Texas Association of Business, Dallas Morning News reported.

The Commission is in the process of forming an exploratory committee to examine the potential impact of gambling on the area. The committee will include business and community leaders and will study the effects of destination gaming on economic development, workforce needs, infrastructure, transportation, and public safety 

Notable attendees included Arlington Mayor Jim Ross, Irving Mayor Rick Stopfer, and Dallas City Council Member Chad West. Despite West's personal reservations about gambling, he emphasized the importance of preparing for possible legislative changes.

“I’m personally not a gambler, and I don’t really want to be. But I do think it’s an industry that has 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,” West was quoted as saying in the report.

Sands has already acquired 108 acres in Irving, near the former Dallas Cowboys stadium site, indicating the company's investment in the region.

The North Texas Commission's Chief Operating Officer, Patrick Brophey, stated that the application process for its gambling committee would be open to all significant regional stakeholders, including those opposed to legalization.

“This is open to North Texas Commission members who we traditionally cater to, but well beyond that as well to get the full scope of our community including social services, public safety, nonprofits, arts and entertainment, mental health professionals and business and industry leaders,” Brophey said, according to the Dallas Business Journal. 

Sands projects that legalized gambling could significantly boost Texas's economy, with an estimated $13 billion increase in GDP, the creation of 70,000 permanent jobs, and 185,000 construction jobs.

The study forecasts that the Dallas-Fort Worth area could see a $34.7 million increase in tax revenue. This figure includes an estimated $5.9 million from sales tax, $28 million from property taxes, and $700,000 from non-gambling-related taxes, the report said.

If the proposed gambling amendment is passed, Sands envisions two destination resorts in the Dallas-Fort Worth area can be established and at least five additional locations can be opened across the state.

Las Vegas Sands has made a substantial investment in advocating for legalized gambling in Texas. In addition to Sands owners Miriam Adelson and Patrick Dumont acquiring the Dallas Mavericks for $3.5 billion, Adelson has allocated millions of dollars to support over 100 Texas lobbyists, aiming to gain momentum for gambling legislation.

As per the report, Adelson has spent at least $13 million in Texas this year on primary and runoff elections and supports pro-gambling groups like the Texas Destination Resort Alliance. Although a majority of Texans favor legalizing gambling, legislative efforts have repeatedly stalled. Legalization would require a constitutional amendment, necessitating voter approval.