Will Texas lawmakers ever move forward on a gaming expansion bill that brings regulated sports betting to the Lone Star State? So far, they’ve been moving very slowly despite the efforts of big-time cash influencers like Miriam Adelson. Adelson, the widow of Sheldon Adelson and the owner of the Las Vegas Sands Corporation is throwing major cash at the Texas gaming expansion.
Over the course of the first ten months of 2024, Adelson has spent more than $13.7 million on political contributions aimed at expanding Texas gaming. That amount included more $8.2 million in donations aimed at individual legislators. While Republican lawmakers and conservative political action committees have received the bulk of Adelson’s largess, Democrats caught $948,500 from the deep-pocketed widow.
The Adelson family is no stranger to buying influence from politicians at a local and national level, but they have some pretty specific interests at play in Texas. As majority owners of the Dallas Mavericks, they stand to benefit tremendously from regulated sports betting.
But Texas is a very conservative place and expanding gambling is not something that its lawmakers have expressed a lot of interest in moving forward. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who has received $200,000 from Adelson was not shy about criticizing Adelson’s technique of using Democrats to introduce gaming legislation. In comments reported on by the Las Vegas Sun he said, You don’t pass major legislation in a red, conservative state with the Democrats controlling the show, particularly on a major bill like that. They’ve come in and spent millions and millions of dollars and they just think that magically it happens. It doesn’t.”
The Texas Legislature only meets on odd-numbered years, so Adelson will get to find out in a few months whether her investment in Lone Star politicians was worthwhile.