Las Vegas Sands continues to push hard for retail casinos in Texas, but any victory for the company will likely mean a step backward for iGaming. The operator, whose late founder Sheldon Adelson was online gambling’s fiercest opponent, is gearing up for another push in the 2025 legislative session. In addition to ramping up political donations and lobbying, Sands has been actively working to gain the support of local leaders and business organizations. The company’s plans mainly target the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex.
Even after Adelson’s death, Sands has mostly stayed out of the online gambling space. The only exception was a brief and soon-aborted foray into business-to-business operations. Rather than joining the likes of MGM and Caesars in embracing the online channel, the company has pulled out of markets where it faces online competition, like Pennsylvania, and sought greener pastures elsewhere. It has increased its focus on Macau, a large retail market where online gambling is illegal, and likely hopes to create a new one in Texas.
Sands lobbyists recently presented their case in roundtable forums arranged by the Texas Association of Business (TAB), the state’s chamber of commerce, and the North Texas Commission (NTC), an organization “dedicated to advancing the vibrancy of the North Texas region. Nearly 50 local officials and business representatives from Dallas, Arlington, Fort Worth, and other North Texas cities attended one of these sessions.
Sands has had its sights set on Texas for a long time. Adelson initiated the Sands lobbying effort for Texas casino gambling before he passed away in 2021. Last year, a Sands-backed casino bill sponsored by state Rep. Charlie Geren, R-Fort Worth, died in the last days of the legislative session. Sands’ interest in the state has expanded to purchasing the Dallas Mavericks NBA team for $3.5 billion, as well as a large parcel of land in Irving, sufficient to build a large casino resort.
Sands’ Efforts Are Gaining Support
According to a presentation by Sands chief lobbyist Andy Abboud, high-end casinos will have a $13 billion economic impact in Texas while adding 70,000 permanent jobs and 185,000 construction jobs.
The increased lobbying and community outreach are showing positive signs for Sands. Glenn Hamer, president and CEO of the TAB, says there’s broad support for casino gambling in the forums. He added,
Supporters of destination gambling clearly have the momentum.
Dallas City Council Member Chad West attended one meeting. He says he has no personal interest in gambling but nonetheless realizes it’s time for the region to prepare for the possibility of casino expansion:
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.
Arlington Mayor Jim Ross is also on board. He says most roundtable attendees favor letting Texas voters decide whether they want retail casinos. If a referendum were to come to voters, there’s a good chance it would pass. In January 2023, a 2023 poll by the Hobby School of Public Affairs at the University of Houston found that 75% of Texans were in favor of gambling expansion in the state.
Meanwhile, the NTC plans to start an exploratory committee to focus on how gambling would affect the region. Chris Wallace, president and CEO of the NTC, believes that retail casinos won’t be finalized in 2025. He says that’s more likely in the biannual sessions in 2027 or 2029.
Sands Casino Could Diminish iGaming Chances
Legalizing retail casinos is usually the first step in pursuing iGaming. Once established, retail casino operators can be either important supporters or opponents of online casinos and sports betting, depending on their designs for that space. Unfortunately, a Sands-dominated Texas retail casino industry would place a massive damper on the chances of Texas online casinos, barring a sudden pivot in the company’s strategy.
The casino operator has long been one of the biggest opponents of online gambling. Before his death, Anderson led a nearly decade-old battle against iGaming. He primarily targeted online poker and contributed millions to political campaigns against it. Anderson’s opposition to iGaming has influenced other industry leaders. David Cordish, CEO of Cordish Companies, has become another prominent iGaming opponent, even though his company operates PlayLive! online brand in Pennsylvania. Earlier this year, he said that the late Sands founder had convinced him that iGaming is bad for the industry.
Las Vegas Sands has identified a strategic opportunity in Texas, particularly North Texas. Reports suggest that Texans already spend between $5 billion and $8 billion annually on gambling in other states. WinStar World Casino, the largest retail casino in the US, is located across the border in Oklahoma, about 80 miles from downtown Dallas and attracts Texans in droves.
Also, Texas lawmakers, particularly Republicans, strongly oppose online gambling expansion. If Sands gains enough support from North Texas local lawmakers and business representatives to get retail casinos legalized, the operator will be in a strong position to keep iGaming away for as long as it wants to.
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