Mavericks Owners with Las Vegas Sands Ties Plan New Arena in Dallas

Efforts toward casino gambling and sports betting in Texas have been ongoing for years. Despite debates and support from some lawmakers, the opposition remains strong in the state that is controlled by Republicans. Yet, earlier this year, a survey uncovered that a majority of Texans favor destination resort casino legislation.

Conducted by the Texas Hispanic Policy Foundation, a non-profit, non-partisan research institution, disclosed an overwhelming majority of the likely voters, or 61%, supported destination resort casinos, while only 27% stood in opposition. Nearly half or 47% of the likely voters also endorsed the idea of legalizing betting on sports.

Now, a newly released report highlights the potential of casino gambling that may arrive in Texas. The effort is led by Patrick Dumont, the new Dallas Mavericks governor. Interviewed by the Associated Press on Friday, he spoke on the important topic. According to Dumont, it remains unclear when the legislators in Texas may legalize casino gambling.

However, he hinted at the possibility of developing a new arena that may include a casino resort in Dallas. As the son-in-law of Miriam Adelson, the widow of Sheldon Adelson, the founder of Las Vegas Sands Corp., Dumont said the two families remain committed to Dallas.

Dallas Has a Growing Economy, a Great Community

Moreover, the new Dallas Mavericks governor acknowledged the importance of such a project for the state. “When we bought the Mavericks, we weren’t really thinking about casino gaming. Dallas is a great community.” Dumont praised the city’s growing economy, adding that many businesses continue to grow in the area.

“We’re patient. We think long term. We’re not people who think in the short term.“

Patrick Dumont, Dallas Mavericks governor

Although Dumont said that his family, along with Adelson, remain focused on Dallas, they think of the long-term. While he acknowledged that there aren’t many opportunities for tourism in Texas, he pointed to Las Vegas Sands’ efforts that help develop large-scale resorts and “tourism assets for both business and leisure tourism.”

Late last month, one player from Texas near-missed the grand prize from Mega Millions. The man won $3 million, which is still a hefty payout but a far cry when compared to the mind-blowing $453 million jackpot at the time.