Las Vegas Sands is embarking on a renewed effort to bring legal casinos to Texas, engaging in roundtable discussions with local leaders in recent weeks. The company has been at the forefront of lobbying efforts to introduce commercial casinos in the state, spending millions of dollars in previous years to push for legislative action.
Despite previous setbacks, Las Vegas Sands shows no signs of slowing down in its pursuit of legalizing casinos in Texas. The company has been in communication with leaders across the Lone Star State to garner support for the upcoming legislative session in January. Through roundtable forums organized by the Texas Association of Business, business representatives and local officials have come together to discuss the potential benefits of introducing casinos in the state.
According to Glenn Hamer, CEO and President of the Texas Association of Business, recent forums have shown strong support for the introduction of casinos in Texas. He believes that momentum is building behind the proposal, indicating a growing level of support for the initiative.
While previous attempts to pass a bill legalizing casinos in Texas fell short, Las Vegas Sands continues to invest heavily in the region. Miriam Adelson, the owner of the company, recently acquired a majority stake in the Dallas Mavericks NBA team and purchased a large piece of land near the former stadium of the Texas Rangers MLB team, potentially for a future casino resort. Discussions have also taken place with Mark Cuban about building a new arena for the Mavericks that includes a casino component.
Representative Charlie Geren, who sponsored the failed bill in the previous legislative session, has not yet decided whether he will reintroduce the proposal in 2025. His previous plan involved allowing state residents to vote on the issue, as a constitutional amendment would be required to legalize casinos in Texas. Another bill proposed by Representative John Kuempel aimed at developing eight casino resorts in major cities across the state.
Despite the growing support for legalizing casinos in Texas, there is significant opposition to the idea. Texas is a conservative state with limited forms of legal gambling, and health advocates and religious groups have raised concerns about the potential social costs of introducing casinos, such as increased addiction and crime rates. The Texas Republican Party, which has held control of state politics for the past two decades, has expressed opposition to any form of gambling expansion.
Despite the challenges, Las Vegas Sands remains optimistic about the prospects of legalizing casinos in Texas. Chief Lobbyist Andy Abboud points to the progress made in the previous legislative session as a reason for optimism, noting that the bills advanced further than any previous attempts. The company believes that introducing casinos in North Texas could have a significant economic impact, creating thousands of construction and permanent jobs in the region.