Primary elections in Texas are set for March 3 and Las Vegas Sands Corp. has spent $10 million backing candidates who may be open to legalizing casinos in the Lone Star State.
Additionally, company owner Miriam Adelson has pitched in another $10 million to candidates, according to the Texas Tribune.
Sands purchased the Dallas Mavericks in 2024 with hopes of eventually building a new arena for the team with a casino attached. But those efforts failed. Now, the company appears to be looking for candidates who might turn the tide for gambling in the state.
Throwing Around Money
Some of those funds have gone to candidate Nathan Watkins, who is running against current state Rep. Terri Leo Wilson (R), whose district covers Galveston, Texas City, and some other areas of south Texas.
Support has also gone to state Rep. Angelia Orr (R), who is seeking re-election against challenger Kathaleen Wall. The two are battling in a state house district that is located in Central Texas and includes some of Waco.
An additional $1 million went to Gov. Greg Abbott’s (R) re-election campaign. The governor is seeking a record fourth term in office and has expressed openness to legalizing casinos and sports betting.
Groups receiving backing have included the Mexican American Legislative Caucus, the Senate Republican Caucus, and the Texas Legislative Black Caucus. Some gambling measures have passed in the House in recent years, but the Senate has been an obstacle and hasn’t taken up gambling bills.
Last year, Adelson backed John Huffman, the former mayor of Southlake, in a special election for a state senate seat. Adelson and her company gave Huffman $3.5 million, but he ultimately finished third and missed the runoff.
Huffman favored allowing Texans to vote on a Constitutional amendment regarding expanded gambling, which is necessary to move legislation forward. The former Southlake focused mostly on property tax cuts.
