Las Vegas Sands Ramps Up Texas Casino Campaign with Local Leader

Texas. With the next legislative session in January fast approaching, Sands is proactively engaging local leaders across the state to rally for this initiative.

The Renewed Push for Legalized Gambling in Texas

Sands lobbyists have been actively participating in a series of roundtable discussions organized by the Texas Association of Business. These forums aim to build momentum for a renewed effort to gambling legislation in 2025. Recently, nearly 50 municipal officials and business leaders from cities like Fort Worth, Arlington, Dallas, and other North Texas communities attended one of these sessions in Tarrant County.

Expanding Sands’ Influence in North Texas

Over the past year, Sands has bolstered its presence in North Texas, including acquiring the Dallas Mavericks and purchasing over 100 acres in Irving, near the former Texas Stadium site. This sizable land acquisition is intended to host a potential destination casino resort, a key component of Sands’ long-term strategy.

This outreach effort is just one part of a larger, multifaceted strategy that includes substantial political donations and an aggressive lobbying campaign by Sands and other gambling advocates. The aim is to overcome longstanding opposition to high-end casinos and legalized sports betting in Texas.

Strategic Outreach to Build for 2025 Legislative Session

During the 2023 legislative session, Sands backed a casino proposal championed by state Rep. Charlie Geren, R-Fort Worth. Despite strong efforts, the bill ultimately failed in the Senate during the session’s final days.

Glenn Hamer, president and CEO of the Texas Association of Business, noted that the forums have revealed substantial for casino gambling despite previous setbacks. “ers of destination gambling clearly have the momentum,” he stated.

When reached for comment by the Fort Worth Report, Rep. Geren was reluctant to predict the outcome of gambling legislation in the 2025 session, indicating that it was too early to discuss the matter. “We are a long way from the next session, and I’m not even considering anything,” Geren said, emphasizing that he was not focused on the issue at this time.

Geren’s earlier proposal would have allowed Texans to vote on a constitutional amendment to legalize casinos statewide, including in North Texas. A similar House bill by state Rep. John Kuempel, R-Seguin, aimed at authorizing eight high-end casinos, also failed alongside Geren’s measure.

Sands’ Long-Term Commitment to Texas

Despite this, Sands remains committed to its Texas efforts. Following the 2023 legislative session, Sands chief lobbyist Andy Abboud vowed to “continue to press forward with our efforts in Texas.” Abboud described the recent legislative outcome as “an extraordinary step forward” and affirmed that the company’s efforts are “on the right track.”

Abboud has been a key figure in the pro-gambling conferences sponsored by the Texas Association of Business, presenting Sands’ case for high-end casinos, which he asserts could generate a $13 billion economic impact, 70,000 permanent jobs, and 185,000 construction jobs in Texas.

“They’re here for the long haul,” said Matt Hirsch, spokesman for the Texas Destination Resort Alliance, highlighting that Sands never expected overnight success in their campaign.

The Texas Association of Business has long ed the concept of destination casino gambling. The organization has coordinated these forums to broaden the coalition backing this cause. Hamer emphasized that the coalition extends beyond Sands Corporation alone.

Building Regional for Casino Legalization

A recent session held at the Hurst Conference Center for North Texas leaders, co-hosted by the North Texas Commission, showcased significant regional . Arlington Mayor Jim Ross expressed his belief that lawmakers would eventually allow voters to decide on casino legalization. “The writing is on the wall,” Ross remarked, noting that such a venue would complement Arlington’s existing entertainment offerings.

Chris Wallace, president and CEO of the North Texas Commission, mentioned that his group has formed an exploratory committee to thoroughly examine all perspectives on the gambling issue. He predicted that achieving legalized gambling in Texas might require a “multi-session strategy,” potentially extending into the 2027 or 2029 legislative sessions.

Additional forums have taken place in McKinney, The Woodlands, and Fort Bend County, with more planned for Odessa, Taylor, and a virtual conference for East Texas.

Source:

Las Vegas Sands targets North Texas officials in renewed push for legalized gambling, fortworthreport.org, August 10, 2024.