Las Vegas Sands Continues Texas Casino Push With $9M PAC Poised for 2026 Election Cycle

Gambling giant Las Vegas Sands (LVS) is ramping up its years-long effort to build a destination casino resort in Texas, signaling it’s ready to spend big to sway lawmakers and the public.

The company’s political action committee, Texas Sands PAC, now holds over $9.3 million in cash, a sum timed strategically ahead of the 2026 election cycle, one that could prove pivotal for the state’s gambling future.

From Las Vegas to Texas Ambitions

Las Vegas Sands, despite its name, no longer operates in the US. It got its start in Las Vegas, but during the COVID-19 pandemic, it sold its last properties there and has since shifted its operations entirely to Asia, where it has been very successful.

The company has long eyed Texas as the way to return to the US. It briefly explored pursuing a downstate New York casino license, but it withdrew from the process earlier this year.

In 2023, LVS chair Miriam Adelson and her son-in-law, company president Patrick Dumont, cemented their Texas ties by acquiring the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks.

A War Chest of Influence

Campaign finance records from Transparency USA show that the PAC received a $9.1 million contribution by Miriam Adelson on June 30. The company itself also contributed a small $4,500 donation.

The $9,348,098 cash on hand places Texas Sands PAC among the most significant single-purpose political funds in the state.

The money will likely be deployed to support pro-gambling candidates and apply pressure to key committee chairs. It could also aid a public campaign should a constitutional amendment to legalize casinos reach the ballot.

Why Now? Eyes on 2026

The 2025 Texas legislative session ended without passing a gambling expansion bill, and no special session is currently expected. Under normal circumstances, the next regular session is scheduled for 2027.

Governor Greg Abbott could still call a special session in 2026. That would allow lawmakers to act sooner and still place the measure on that year’s ballot.

Either way, the 2026 elections will be critical. All 150 seats in the state House of Representatives and 16 out of 31 state Senate seats will be up for grabs. Also, numerous statewide and judicial offices, as well as the Governor’s seat, are on the ballot.

Casino legalization requires an amendment to the Texas Constitution. That means it must receive two-thirds approval in both the Texas House and Senate, followed by a referendum.

The timing of the PAC’s funding suggests that LVS is likely preparing to invest in election campaigns. That would provide it with an opening to leverage contributions for favorable policy commitments.

Lessons From the 2025 Session

LVS’s push in the 2025 legislative session failed to gain traction despite being one of the most ambitious lobbying campaigns. The company hired over 100 lobbyists and spent millions on advertising. It promoted legislation that would have authorized up to seven destination casinos and retail sports betting.

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who presides over the Senate, controls committee appointments and decides which bills get a floor vote, has long opposed casino expansion on moral and social grounds. His position makes him the single most influential gatekeeper on the issue.

Political insiders told the Texas Monthly that the scale and intensity of LVS’s lobbying came across as bullying. That alienated many Republicans and grassroots activists.

The campaign also faced unexpected headwinds. Texas lawmakers were not interested in expanding gambling, but rather in banning what already exists: the lottery.

In February, a controversy over a jackpot involving the lottery courier Jackpocket shifted lawmakers’ attention to the integrity of the state lottery.

By the end of the session, lawmakers voted for the abolishment of the Texas Lottery Commission. The lottery scandals were the death knell for hopes of gambling. Lawmakers who were already against gambling expansion were now driven even further away from the idea.

While some lawmakers have called on letting voters decide, Patrick’s and many republicans’ resistance has proven that big spending won’t be enough.

The Irving Resort Vision

Even without legislative success, the Sands is positioning itself for future development. The company has proposed building an integrated resort complex on nearly 1,000 acres in Irving, the former site of Texas Stadium, the home of the Dallas Cowboys until 2008.

The vision, as presented to city planners, includes luxury hotels, a convention center, restaurants, retail space, and, if laws change, a Las Vegas-style casino floor. It would also include a 15,000-seat arena, likely the future home of the Mavericks.

Supporters, such as Andy Abboud, Sands’ vice president of government relations, tout the project as an economic catalyst, potentially creating up to 18,000 jobs.

Critics, however, caution that without a casino, the project remains speculative.

The Road Ahead

With over $9 million in the bank, Sands is entering a two-year political campaign. In that time, it must find a way to shape the Legislature and overcome moral opposition to gambling.

Its challenge will be to avoid repeating past missteps and to win over a skeptical electorate and resistant Senate leadership. If it can secure enough votes in 2026, the company may finally put a casino amendment to voters, potentially bringing Texas its first Las Vegas–style resort.