AUSTIN, TX – The Sports Betting Alliance, which counts several Dallas pro teams including the Cowboys, Mavericks and Texas Rangers among its members, issued a statement noting that their bill had stalled out but they were still hopeful to get a committee vote on a resolution to regulate unofficial, or offshore, sports betting apps that don’t provide consumer protections.
The largest investment in expanding gaming came from the Las Vegas Sands Corp., the gambling empire created by the late Sheldon Adelson. In addition to a major ad campaign, which will continue throughout the session, the Sands spent at least $3 million on 74 lobbyists to make their case. They, too, struck a positive tone in a statement to The News on Friday.
“We have said from the beginning that we’re committed to Texas for the long haul,” said Andy Abboud, senior vice president of government affairs for the Las Vegas Sands. “We have made great strides this session and have enjoyed meeting with lawmakers about our vision for destination resorts and answering all the questions they have.”
Abboud added they would work through the rest of the session, and afterward, to “ultimately turn this vision into a reality.”
Kuempel put it more simply. If he is re-elected, he will try again when lawmakers next meet in 2023, saying: “Let’s roll the dice!”
