The North Texas Commission (NTC) has established a new agenda to study the potential consequences of legalizing casino gambling and sports betting before the legislative season begins. The committee, composed of business and community leaders, will assess the impact of destination gambling on various sectors, including economic development, labor demand, infrastructure, transportation, and public safety.
NTC's Chief Operating Officer Patrick Brophey emphasized the importance of broad community representation in the committee. The committee will include elected officials, tourism leaders, economic development officers, and representatives from religious and faith organizations. Brophey stated, "We want equal representation from across the region," indicating the committee's intent to cover all areas of the community.
The formation of the committee followed a roundtable discussion hosted by NTC and the Texas Business Association. During the event, an executive from the Las Vegas Sands Corporation praised the benefits of destination gambling for Texas, especially the Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) area. Under the leadership of billionaire Miriam Adelson, the Sands Corporation has been a strong advocate for the legalization of casino gambling in Texas, investing $6.7 million in lobbying in 2021 alone.
Broad Representation
Adelson's influence extends beyond lobbying; she has also made substantial political donations in Texas elections this year, totaling over $13 million. Additionally, her family recently acquired a majority stake in the Dallas Mavericks, with team owner Mark Cuban hinting at the possibility of building a resort casino centered around a new arena in Dallas.
Leaders from the Sands Corporation and NTC are pushing for a bill that would place a constitutional amendment on the ballot, allowing voters to decide whether to permit casino gambling. The amendment would require approval by two-thirds of both legislative bodies and a majority of state voters.
At the roundtable, Sands Corporation Senior Executive Andy Abboud emphasized the economic benefits of destination resorts. He compared the limited number of casino licenses to NFL or MLB teams, arguing that diluting the market would weaken investment and its economic impact.
Abboud also noted that DFW could benefit from increased convention space, similar to Las Vegas. A study by Rice University estimated that the gambling industry could contribute $13 billion to the Texas economy and create 70,000 permanent jobs. DFW could see a tax revenue increase of $34.7 million.
In addressing safety and crime issues, Abboud refuted claims that casinos lead to higher crime rates, citing a decrease in crime rates in the area around the Sands Corporation's resort in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.
Despite some skepticism, local leaders are increasingly convinced that the legalization of casino gambling is inevitable. Irving Mayor Rick Stopfer stated, "It's going to happen," emphasizing the need for metropolitan areas to be prepared compared to the rest of the state.
