Las Vegas Sands Believes 5 Casino Resorts Suitable For Texas

Las Vegas Sands (LVS) has unveiled a proposal to establish a quintet of destination casino resorts across the state of Texas. The initiative has been spearheaded by Andy Abboud, the Senior Vice President of Government Relations at LVS, who has been actively advocating for the company’s vision during recent roundtable discussions in the state.

According to Abboud’s plan, two of these proposed casino resorts would be strategically situated within the bustling Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, an area where LVS has expressed keen interest in establishing its gaming operations. Concurrently, the Golden Nugget, another prominent player in the industry, has set its sights on Houston as a potential location for a casino resort.

However, the realization of these ambitious plans hinges on the successful passage of controversial legislation by the Texas legislature, a feat that would also require the backing of the state’s voters. Brandon Rottinghaus, a political science professor at the University of Houston, has cautioned against premature optimism, likening the current situation to “counting your winnings at the table” before the game has even begun.

Rottinghaus highlighted the prevailing divide within Texas regarding the expansion of gaming, both among the public and politicians. Previous attempts to amend the state constitution to allow for destination gaming resorts have encountered significant political obstacles and gained little traction.

Rather than expecting sweeping changes, Rottinghaus suggested that any initial legislative moves might be more modest, potentially involving a comprehensive feasibility study or a limited number of licenses for online sports betting options. He anticipates that progress in this domain will likely unfold incrementally, describing it as “baby steps towards expanded gambling in Texas.”

Clyde W. Barrow, a professor of political science at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, concurred with the assessment that the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex could support two destination resort casinos. He further predicted additional casinos in Houston, San Antonio-Austin, Corpus Christi, and the McAllen/Rio Grande Valley (RGV) region.

Similarly, Mark P. Jones, a professor at Rice University, noted that most proposals envision two casino licenses for the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, two for the Houston area, and one for San Antonio. More expansive plans could include casinos in Austin, Corpus Christi, and the Rio Grande Valley.

Tribal gaming has emerged as a related issue in the discussion of commercial casinos. Proposals include provisions allowing tribes such as the Alabama-Coushatta (Livingston), Kickapoo (Eagle Pass), and Tigua (El Paso) to operate gaming facilities. While not on the scale of destination resort casinos, these facilities would still provide substantial gaming opportunities, ensuring that these communities are not disadvantaged by the new legislation.

According to Jones, at least five casinos would be the minimum requirement for successful legislation in Texas, envisioning two casinos each in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex and Houston, and one in San Antonio. However, he noted that a broader bill could potentially include casinos in Austin and the RGV while offering expanded gaming options to the tribes, thereby improving their current circumstances.

A crucial figure in the approval process is Texas Governor Greg Abbott (R). Jones suggested that Abbott favours casinos that function as true destination resorts, generating substantial revenue from tourism, conferences, sporting events, concerts, and trade shows, rather than relying solely on local gambling activities. Abbott appears less supportive of casinos aimed primarily at local gamblers.