The Texas Destination Resort Alliance (TDRA) has filed a petition to legalize gambling in the Lone Star State to try to put an end to the uncertainty of the long-time pending legislative issue. The gambling bill proposal would reportedly require to pass both the Texas House and Texas Senate to be brought to a referendum. It would be only after the voters have approved the bill on a ballot that the Adelson and Dumont family – the owners of the Las Vegas Corp. and the financial supporters of the TDRA petition – would be in a position to finally legalize casino gambling in Texas, as reported by WFAA.

Petition to Legalize Gambling in Texas:

The initiative has failed to pass the legislature for several times already but the Texas Destination Resort Alliance continues efforts. As the source reports, the alliance is backed by the Las Vegas Sand Corp., i.e., the aforementioned family that also owns the Dallas Mavericks. The petition says that it is “fighting to bring luxury resorts, top-of-the-line entertainment, fine dining, and more to Texans’ backyards” by “expanding casino-style gambling” into Texas, according to WFAA.

The Adelson family has acquired Dallas Mavericks to secure a comfortable market position as soon as the legal gambling kicks off in Texas. The company plans to implement extensive developments in the area and transform Dallas into one of the top-five travel destinations in the United States, as the source reports. But the Las Vegas Sands Corp. and other industry players need the respective gambling bill to trigger the implementation of these worked-out designs.

Legalized Gambling to Drive Local Developments:

Some Dallas City officials recognize such a proposal as a chance for the local community. As reported by WFAA, Dallas City Council Member Chad West told Inside Texas Politics: “And if we’re sitting around on our hands once it becomes legalized, it’s a malpractice for us as a city to not put processes in place and plan for welcoming casinos in. I guarantee you cities like Irving, Grand Prairie, certainly Arlington, are already looking at what happens in our city if legalization happens at the state level.”

At the same time, Patrick Dumont, governor of the Dallas Mavericks and President and Chief Operating Officer for Las Vegas Sands Corp., said that the company would avail of the legalized gaming to facilitate developments of integrated resorts and sports arenas in the state. “Over time, we hope that it happens. I can’t tell you when it’s going to be, but we’re very focused on it as a company, and we like the opportunity to develop some very unique tourism assets, specifically in Dallas,” Dumont reportedly added.

$66.5 Billion Gaming Handle in 2023:

The company’s expansion seems based on the data of American Gaming Association indicating that the 2023 gaming handle amounted to $66.5 billion in 2023, $6 billion-or around 9 percent-more than in 2022, according to WFAA. The same source reports that numerous legalization efforts have failed in Texas to date. The last Texas House session rejected a bill proposed by the State Rep. Charlie Green (R-Fort Worth), while a separate online sports betting bill cleared the House to be rejected in the Senate.

The bill would reportedly need the support of two-thirds of the Texas House (100 of 150 Representatives) and Texas Senate (21 of 31 Senators) to be approved and delivered to ballot. In the end, it would be voters that would decide upon the gaming launch in the Lone Star State. Dallas city official Chad West thinks that legalization will happen soon.  “I would be shocked if it doesn’t happen this session in some fashion or another. I would guess the state does something,” he reportedly said.

West added: ”Maybe not full legalization. Maybe just a few licenses here and there to sort of test out the waters like they did with medical marijuana. But I foresee something happening in this next session.”