Las Vegas Sands woos officials in Texas to pitch five casino resorts

Las Vegas Sands has been undergoing a tectonic shift, not least because of the passing of the company’s founder Sheldon Adelson, who has been succeeded by his capable wife, Miriam.

The company has been lobbying to bring resort-style casinos in Texas, much like the ones that first appeared on The Strip over 80 years ago, in the past several years, and especially following the sale of its Las Vegas assets in 2021 to Appollo Global Management and VICI Properties.

Las Vegas Sands wants to build "at least" five casino resorts in Texas

Las Vegas Sands essentially divested prominent pieces of real estate such as the Venetian Resort, Sands Expo and Convention Center, and The Palazzo, raising cash to focus on expanding in other markets.

Texas has been a fair game with the company openly lobbying and hiring representatives to push hard for the introduction of casino resorts in the Lone Star State.

According to a report from Dallas Morning News this week, the company has hosted a gathering of city officials from Fort Worth, Visit Dallas, Farmers Branch, Arlington, and Dallas, to discuss the potential construction of resort-style casinos, the type which would necessitate constitutional amendment.

The momentum behind the initiative is building, too, with officials seemingly keen to plug the outflow of state tourists and boost local economies. Hosted by the North Texas Commission and the Texas Association of Business, the get-together sought to flesh out potential details about how such a plan could move forward.

Addy Abboud, the lobbyist hired for Las Vegas Sands, said that the company would be willing to build two properties around the Dallas and Fort Worth area, with the two cities located around a 30-minute drive apart. The company is also planning to build "at least" five casino resorts in the country.

Huge potential economic boost for Texas from casino resorts

Cited by Dallas Morning News, Abboud argues that building the new properties and collaborations will not be on "every corner" to avoid "diminishing the investment."

Las Vegas Sands is optimistic about the economic windfall that Texas may enjoy, citing that 70,000 new jobs will be created and an estimated $13bn will be added to the state’s gross domestic product, along with 185,000 construction jobs while the sites are being built.

These plans are yet to materialize, with casino resorts taking a few years to get up and running, even when the legal details have been thrashed out.

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