The Austin Statesman – Bob Sechler
A push by Las Vegas Sands to legalize casinos in Texas is moving forward, despite odds of success that appeared to get significantly longer recently when Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick reiterated his opposition to loosening the state’s gambling restrictions.
Las Vegas Sands, the Nevada company founded by the late Sheldon Adelson, views Texas as a huge untapped casino market, with the potential to support major casino-based “destination resorts” in four top metropolitan areas, including Austin, as well as smaller regional facilities around the state, according to Andy Abboud, a Las Vegas Sands senior vice president.
The company’s casinos — which incorporate hotels, restaurants, spas and nongambling entertainment venues — require investments of $2 billion to $3 billion each and directly employ up to 10,000 people, and “we’re never going to ask for one tax incentive,” Abboud said Thursday.
Read the full article from the Austin American Statesman here.
