The Las Vegas Sands Corporation wants to build a massive hotel, casino and convention resort in Dallas—but first, Texas would need to legalize gambling, and local officials would need to welcome the project.
In an exclusive interview with NBC 5, company executives said they hope to replicate the success of the Marina Bay Sands in Singapore with a similar multi-billion-dollar investment in North Texas.
“Dallas is the only other place in the world that we think can match Marina Bay Sands in Singapore. It’s that simple,” said Andy Abboud, senior vice president for Las Vegas Sands.
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The Marina Bay Sands hotel in Singapore.
Located on more than 38 acres across the bay from downtown Singapore, the Marina Bay Sands is among the most iconic hotel properties in the world.
The 1,850-room luxury resort spans three towers, 55 stories tall, and includes a rooftop infinity pool, a 6,000-person ballroom, more than 1 million square feet of convention space and an 800,000-square-foot underground mall. It also features 80 restaurants, a nightclub, and the ArtScience Museum, where staff present nightly light-and-water shows in the bay.
The resort’s theater has hosted major productions, including The Lion King, Wicked and The Phantom of the Opera, further cementing its status as a global entertainment destination.
Built with a $5.6 billion investment, the property drew 38 million visitors last year and earned more than $2 billion before interest, taxes and amortization, according to the company. It is currently undergoing an $8 billion expansion, including a 15,000-seat arena.
“This will be a hospitality product really unknown to the United States. There is not this level of facility even in Las Vegas, Nevada,” Abboud said. “People need to rethink anything they’ve seen in Texas or Las Vegas and imagine a whole new level of entertainment and hospitality.”
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Andy Abboud, senior vice president for Las Vegas Sands.
Las Vegas Sands sold its namesake Las Vegas properties—the Venetian and the Palazzo—in 2022. Its only remaining resorts are in Macau and Singapore. Abboud said the company is now looking for a flagship property in the United States.
A Dallas resort could be built within two to three years, Abboud said, if state lawmakers allow casino gaming and if a community supports the development. Possible locations include Trinity Groves, the former Texas Stadium site in Irving, the Dallas Mavericks’ practice arena in the Design District or Fair Park.
“The bigger the footprint, the better,” Abboud said. “It gives us the opportunity not only to build something really creative without a lot of restrictions but allows us to provide opportunities for other entrepreneurs to build businesses around us.”
Hurdles ahead
The proposal faces two major hurdles.
First, Texas must legalize casino gambling. The state currently prohibits it, and the fight to change that law will be intense and expensive.
Rob Kohler, a consultant with the Christian Life Commission of the Baptist General Convention of Texas, has helped lead efforts against casino expansion for more than a decade.
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View from the pool at the Marina Bay Sands hotel in Singapore.
“[They’re] joining a long list of people in the waiting line. Some people have been in that line for 30 years,” Kohler said when the Sands hired lobbyists for their effort.
Second, Sands needs a community willing to host a casino.
In March, a proposal to allow casino development at the former Texas Stadium site in Irving fell apart after intense public opposition. Though the Irving City Council approved rezoning backed by Sands, a zoning board stripped out the casino provisions following heated meetings and pushback from residents.
“As our children get older, we want to ensure that they’re able to grow up in a city where they feel safe and that doesn’t necessarily attract some of the vices that come with the gaming industry,” said Irving resident Fuad Dadabhoy.
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The Marina Bay Sands hotel in Singapore.
Some expressed skepticism even if the casino plans were removed.
“If they’re honest people, they’re not going to do anything if they’re not doing gaming. So if they do something, then you’ve got to question their honesty,” said Irving resident Charles Zipper.
Reflecting on the setback in Irving, Abboud said the company is not discouraged.
“People exercised the democratic process, which we respected,” he said. “The city of Irving at that time was not ready to do that. And so we respect the position. We can always go back and look at that at another time.”
Why Dallas?
Las Vegas Sands recently pulled back plans for a Long Island casino in New York, citing concerns over the growth of internet gaming. In South Florida, the Seminole Tribe dominates the market. And on the West Coast, cities like Los Angeles and San Diego are just a short drive from Las Vegas.
But North Texas, Abboud argues, stands apart. He pointed to the region’s central location, population growth, major airports and favorable business climate.
“Texas is today the largest illegal gaming market in America,” he said. “With no jobs, no revenue, no taxes, no economic benefit, no increased visitation—just a big illegal market.”
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Andy Abboud, senior vice president for Las Vegas Sands, left, talks with NBC 5’s Phil Prazan, right.
The company also has strong ties to the region. Dr. Miriam Adelson, the widow of Sands founder Sheldon Adelson, controls the company. Her son-in-law, Patrick Dumont, is now CEO and also owns the controlling interest in the Dallas Mavericks.
“If you look at what we do, we’re ground-up developers in scale,” Dumont said at a press conference last year. “We feel like this is an opportunity that’s very good, not only for us but for the tourism industry as a whole. Now, as part of that, we need casino gaming because of the scale of our investments.”
Abboud made clear that a project like Marina Bay Sands only works financially with a casino attached.
“The gambling helps pay for all the shops, restaurants and event spaces,” he said. “At the end of the day, we’re in the gaming business.”
More coverage of “The Big Bet” continues Wednesday and Thursday at 10 p.m. on NBC 5.