IRVING, Texas — Lobbyists for the casino giant Sands Corporation held a presentation last week for local public officials, pitching them on legalizing gaming in North Texas.
The presentation included details of the company's casino property in Singapore, its estimate of the economic impact of gaming in Texas and potential locations of proposed resorts.
"The level of detail, the effort that’s going in from Sands in particular, they wouldn’t be doing that frivolously," said Patrick Brophey, the chief operating officer of the North Texas Commission, which lobbies on behalf of North Texas private and public interests and helped organize the presentation event.
"It’s wise of companies like Sands to start laying the groundwork," he said.
The presentation claims casino operations would bring 14,000 jobs to North Texas and result in nearly $6 million of sales tax revenue. Municipalities want to be prepared to bring that money to their areas.
"If we’re going to have to deal with that anyway, why would we not want to control it through the city of Dallas and also get the tax revenues and benefits associated with it?" said Dallas City Councilmember Chad West, who represents Oak Cliff and attended the meeting. "We've got to be prepared for it if it does come."
He said he didn't have a perspective on the matter yet -- but wanted to plan ahead.
"There's a lot at stake here," said Farmers Branch Mayor Terry Lynne, who also attended the Sands presentation. "This is very big business."
Lynne didn't take a position either, but expressed a sense of inevitability for legalized gaming's arrival.
"I really think casino gambling is headed to Texas," he said.
But all agree it will take years before the first cards are dealt and the first bets won.
"No way you cut it, it’s going to be a long road ahead," Brophey said.
Brophey estimates it will take at least 10 years -- at the fastest -- for a destination casino of the type Sands is pitching to open its doors.
"Some may look at that and say it’s a pipe dream, but others would suggest that you have to start somewhere," he said.
Exactly where is a critical question. Companies affiliated with Sands purchased about 100 acres of land in Irving near Loop 12 and Highway 114 last July, but the map included in the company's presentation listed other counties such as Rockwall and Somervell as potential locations of proposed resorts.
"I think it’s super preliminary," West said. "I think there’s something to be said about purchasing land in Irving."
Regardless, Brophey said the people who attended the presentation seemed open to the idea of a legalized destination gambling resort in their area.
"I'll put it this way," he said. "Everybody thinks they have a great place for a casino."