The efforts to get gaming legalized in Texas continued as Las Vegas Sands representatives met with North Texas leaders. 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.

Texas Is a Huge Untapped Market

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 reported by Dallas Morning News, LVS lobbyists met with leaders from North Texas 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.

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 the 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.

LVS Has Been Trying to Make Texas Casinos a Reality for a While

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-Fort Worth area. He added that the operator would focus on key areas instead of trying to be on every corner.

In 2023, an Axios report 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 reports.