Published on: November 19, 2025, 09:49h.
Updated on: November 19, 2025, 09:49h.
- Las Vegas Sands increases focus on Texas casino legislation
- Developer of Venetian Las Vegas aims to establish an integrated resort in Dallas
- The firm has ambitious plans for the North Texas region
Las Vegas Sands is looking to construct a casino resort in the heart of Dallas that promises to provide an experience unlike anything most Americans have encountered. This information was shared by Andy Abboud, the company’s experienced chief lobbyist.
For over twenty years, Sands’ senior vice president for government relations, Abboud, discussed the company’s unwavering commitment to Texas in a recent conversation with NBC 5 in Dallas-Fort Worth. Even after their favored candidate for the Texas Senate District 9 seat lost in a special election, Sands remains optimistic that state lawmakers will eventually embrace casino gambling.
Abboud expressed that if granted the opportunity, Sands would develop an extraordinary hospitality and entertainment hub in Dallas, outstripping anything found on the Las Vegas Strip and echoing the design of its Marina Bay Sands in Singapore. This renowned resort is often referred to as the “gold standard” for integrated resorts, a concept popularized by the late Sheldon Adelson, the founder and CEO of Sands.
Adelson played a key role in envisioning the all-inclusive resort casino concept, which is enhanced by extensive convention and meeting spaces.
Transforming Dallas into a Singapore Experience
Currently, Texas does not permit commercial casinos, a situation Sands has invested considerable resources into changing over the past few years.
True to the saying, “everything is indeed bigger in Texas.” Abboud suggests that if the state embraces casinos, they will introduce a resort unlike any other in the United States.
“The hospitality product we will offer is unprecedented in the United States; no facility of this magnitude exists even in Las Vegas,” Abboud stated.
“People need to reset their perceptions of what they’ve seen in Texas or Las Vegas and envision a transformative level of entertainment and hospitality,” Abboud added. “The larger the space, the more creative freedom we have, which also enables us to create opportunities for other entrepreneurs to establish businesses nearby.”
Marina Bay Sands ranks among the largest resorts globally. In July, Sands initiated an $8 billion expansion project that will add a fourth hotel tower to its existing trio, connected by the iconic Sands Skypark Observation Deck and an exquisite rooftop infinity pool.
So why target Dallas? Abboud explains that the Seminole Tribe has established dominance in Florida, the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast are already oversaturated with casinos, and California’s proximity to Las Vegas presents challenges. Although many casino resorts exist in Oklahoma, Abboud believes that North Texas offers the most promising market.
Potential Collaboration with Mark Cuban
In 2023, billionaire Mark Cuban sold a 69% controlling stake in the Dallas Mavericks to Dr. Miriam Adelson, widow of Sheldon Adelson, for $3.5 billion. Alongside her son-in-law, Patrick Dumont, she now leads the NBA team.
Cuban and Adelson are contemplating the construction of a new NBA arena for the Mavericks next to a casino resort in Dallas. Cuban believes that the city and state need innovative attractions to entice visitors.
However, Cuban, Adelson, and Sands are anticipated to face significant resistance in their push for expanded gambling. Conservative lawmakers have demonstrated a reluctance to endorse slot machines and tabletop games, and influential faith-based organizations consistently campaign against casinos.