The efforts of Las Vegas Sands casino mogul Sheldon Adelson to elbow his way into Texas and persuade the legislature to support his proposal for five casinos could benefit El Paso’s Tigua Indians in their efforts to keep their Speaking Rock Entertainment Center open.
If—and it’s a big if, considering the Lone Star State’s longstanding opposition to gaming expansion—the casinos were to be authorized, federal law would require that the Tigua Indians be allowed to offer any gaming that is legal in the state.
Adelson has hired a small army of lobbyists to arm up for persuading the legislature in its 2021 session.
Besides the Tibia tribe, the Alabama Coushatta and Kickapoo would be able to open tribal casinos. The Tibias have battled the state government for three decades, but have nearly exhausted their legal remedies, and will probably have to close unless the U.S. Congress or, in this case, the Texas legislature, comes to the rescue.
Last year a federal judge ordered the tribe to stop offering bingo and electronic games which, he said, violate state law. His injunction was stayed while the tribe appealed. The ruling was upheld this year by the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals. The tribe has now appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court, which has given both parties until January 11 to file arguments.
Last year the U.S. House passed a bill that would have allowed the Tiguas and Alabama Coushatta to offer gaming. The Senate has never taken up the bill.
Cesar Blanco, recently elected as a state senator, commented, “If and when this push begins, I’m going to be sure that any bill that may advance gaming, that it advances guarantees that the Tiguas are able to operate their casino.”
Governor Gregg Abbott, Lt. Governor Dan Patrick and Attorney General Ken Paxton, are on record opposing any gaming expansion.
But Adelson is special. He is considered one of the largest donors to Republican candidates (the GOP rules the state at present) and he and his wife Miriam donated $4.5 million to help keep the state’s congressional delegation Republication. Attention must be paid to such donors.
Adelson has 12 lobbyists on his payroll in the state capital and the Tiguas have two.
