Gambling magnate, wife gave over $5M to political campaigns

One of the late Sheldon Adelson’s last gambles was on Texas.

The Las Vegas gambling tycoon, who died Jan. 11, and his wife, Miriam, combined to give more than $5 million in campaign donations to Texas politicians over the past six months to help Republicans retain control of the Texas House and to boost the reelection campaigns of Gov. Greg Abbott and House Speaker Dade Phelan.

Campaign finance reports show that the Adelsons gave $4.5 million to a political action committee in September to support 23 Republicans for the House. Then Sheldon Adelson sent $500,000 to Abbott in two checks in October, making him the largest single donor to the governor in the second half of 2020, according to the latest campaign finance reports. He followed that up with $25,000 to Phelan, R-Beaumont, in early December.

The tidal wave of donations comes as top gaming companies from around the nation have ramped up their activities in Texas in hopes that the Legislature will consider expanding gambling in Texas to include casinos.

Currently, the Texas Constitution prohibits the expansion of gambling, a provision Abbott has supported and defended in the past.

To change the constitution, casino backers would need to get two-thirds of the House and Senate to support putting a measure on the ballot.

With a tough budget year ahead because of the COVID-19 pandemic, gambling companies have loaded up with lobbyists in Texas. Adelson’s Las Vegas Sands, BetMGM (whose parent company is MGM Resorts International) and Caesars Entertainment — the three biggest casino operators in the world — combined to hire 69 lobbyists to work the Legislature during the 2021 session, which began Jan. 12.

The roster of lobbyists includes big names in Texas politics. Among Las Vegas Sands’ 51

influencers is veteran Austin lobbyist Karen Rove, wife of GOP master strategist Karl Rove. Among BetMGM’s 15 lobbyists is Allen Blakemore, one of Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick’s top advisers. Among Caesar’s three lobbyists is Stan Schlueter, a former state representative who is billed as a “top hired gun” on his company’s website. Boyd Gaming has four lobbyists, including former U.S. Rep. Kent Hance.

Gaming companies have been talking up Texas for weeks.

“Texas is considered the biggest plum still waiting to

be out there in the history of hospitality and gaming,” said Andy Abboud, senior vice president of government relations for the Las Vegas Sands Corp.

Advocates of gaming in Texas say the state is losing millions in revenues as Texans travel to neighboring states such as Oklahoma and Louisiana, which have legalized casino gambling.

But opposition remains in conservative circles particularly. The Texas Republican Party’s platform includes a line opposing expanded gaming and calls on the governor to veto any bill that would expand gambling in Texas.