The ongoing battle to legalize full-scale casino gaming in Texas continues as Las Vegas Sands officials are doing their best to engage as many state stakeholders as possible. Per a recent update, the efforts to get gaming legalized in Texas continued as LVS representatives met with North Texas leaders last month. The casino and hospitality powerhouse hopes to secure enough support to get resort-style casinos legalized in the state finally. While experts predict that gambling could create as many as 70,000 new permanent jobs and over twice as many construction jobs, some lawmakers are still reluctant to back casino resorts. Of course, as many regular readers of this space are aware, Texas, along with California, seems to be the crown jewel of gaming should legalization come about in the near future which explains the hard push from LVS in particular.
In this report, SBS will be going over the latest gaming news coming from Texas along with more notes and info regarding the state of gaming in the Lone Star State.
According to the article, and covered in this space before, Texas has cemented itself as one of the more conservative states when it comes to gambling. Previous efforts to legalize various verticals have fallen through without leading to any significant change. However, Las Vegas Sands remains bullish on the Lone Star State. As a local outlet in Texas reported, LVS lobbyists met with leaders from around the North Texas region to discuss the matter. Assembled by the North Texas Commission and the Texas Association of Business, the meeting sought to evaluate the potential impact casino gaming could have on Texas.
Noted in the article, the commission seeks to create an exploratory committee that would focus on how casinos would affect North Texas in particular. The committee is set to be formed this autumn. Patrick Brophey, chief operating officer of the North Texas Commission, told a Dallas Business Journal representative that the goal would be to truly understand how gaming would impact social services, public safety, charities, the entertainment sector, business, and North Texan communities as a whole. Chad West, a member of the Dallas City Council, said that Texas still has a lot to understand when it comes to destination gambling.
The efforts to legalize casino gaming in Texas align with Las Vegas Sands’ long-term efforts. The casino giant has spent millions to get casino gaming greenlit and tap into the second most-populated state in the US. LVS has already secured a 108-acre site across from the site of the Dallas Cowboys’ former stadium, and it is awaiting the time casino resorts are permitted in the state. According to LVS lobbyist Andy Abboud, the company is interested in opening at least five resorts in Texas, two of which would be located in the Dallas-Forth Worth area. He added that the operator would focus on key areas instead of trying to be on every corner.
Moreover, in 2023, a report from a national outlet suggested that LVS has some 72 lobbyists in Texas, singlehandedly outnumbering other organizations. The company has spent approximately $100 million on lobbying in Texas, according to other sources as well.
Noted in another article and touched on here, the North Texas Commission (NTC) formed an “exploratory committee” to study how destination gaming will impact the area. Further explaining the committee’s makeup, Brophey explained in one article that the NTC wants the committee to include people with a wide range of opinions on gambling, from support of casino gambling to those actively opposed. The decision to form the committee comes after a roundtable discussion on July 24 hosted by the NTC and Texas Association of Business.
The Senior Vice President of Government Relations for Las Vegas Sands Corp., Andy Abboud, gave a presentation in which he illustrated the difference between “destination resorts” and casinos, using Sands resorts as an example. He highlighted that these locations provide gaming, entertainment, and business travel in one location. Another part of his argument was that introducing destination resorts benefits nearby businesses economically. “The basic concept here is that when you build something really spectacular that becomes an iconic tourist destination, then a rising tide lifts all boats,” Abboud explained. Abboud’s proposal limited the number of licenses awarded to keep things competitive. He proposed that each major metropolitan area in Texas receives some licenses and a few other destinations in the Lone Star State.
After you are all squared away with the latest gaming news and notes coming from the Lone Star State, make sure to of course tap into the awesome array of info at SBS. For additional insights on the topic covered here, check out the sports betting in Texas guide which covers all of the latest gaming notes and news coming from the region. Additionally, if you are interested in maximizing your wagers, look no further than the best bonus betting sites breakdown. Here, if you are an eligible customer, you can explore all kinds of great topics including a catalog of the latest and greatest welcome bonus offers for you. Finally, if you are interested in some higher-stakes wagering, make sure to peruse the VIP sports betting sites rundown which goes over the perks of VIP betting for eligible customers and beyond.
About the Author
As a devout aficionado of sports, Chris Boline has carved a career within the athletic realm. A skilled scribe, he boasts a decade-long portfolio that encompasses coverage of the NBA G League, the Los Angeles Chargers, football and basketball across the country. Beyond his professional pursuits, Chris is deeply invested in his community and dedicates his leisure hours to serving on boards, collaborating with community organizations, and cherishing the company of loved ones. CURRENTLY Business Development and freelance sports writing RESIDES IN Reno, NV EDUCATION University of Nevada BS and MBA EXPERTISE -Sports writing proficiency in: NFL, NBA, UFC, boxing, golf, and some motor sports -Topical news -Promotional and marketing ideas/updates -Business development Summary Chris Boline serves in a business development sales capacity as his day job. He has previously held sales/marketing positions with The Applied Companies (TAC), KTVN 2 News and the NBA G League’s Reno Bighorns, affiliate of the Sacramento Kings. He is a Reno native and is a member of various community boards including the Nevada Sagebrush Alumni Chapter, NCET and the College of Business Alumni Association (COBAA). Chris graduated from the University of Nevada in 2015 with a bachelors in management and economics and also earned his MBA from Nevada in 2023. More about Chris: Past president of the College of Business Alumni Association (COBAA) 2022-23 Two-time honoree for University of Nevada Alumni Chapter of the Year (Nevada Sagebrush Alumni Chapter, 2017 & COBAA, 2021) 2021 NCET award for Professional Services Organization of the Year with TAC Northern Nevada Human Resources Association 2020 Best Places to Work-Northern Nevada, Second Place with TAC 2016-17 Reno Bighorns MVP from the Sacramento Kings The Nevada Sagebrush editor-in-chief 2013-15 Associated Collegiate Press 2015 Four-year Non-daily Newspaper Pacemaker honoree University of Nevada, Reno College of Business Dean's List honoree (5x) from 2011-2015 Nevada Press Association award for Best Sports Column – Community in 2015 Education
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