Posted on: June 21, 2024, 11:41h.
Last updated on: June 21, 2024, 11:41h.
A super political action committee (PAC) that backs the reelection of Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, recently got $1M in contributions from megadonor and casino magnate Miriam Adelson.
The PAC has spent over $700K on the Cruz campaign. The total balance in the PAC as of May was $1.6M. It officially isn’t part of Cruz’s reelection campaign.
Adelson and her family are co-owners of Las Vegas Sands (LVS), with Miriam Adelson being the largest shareholder. They are also the new majority owners of the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks.
Cruz is facing U.S. Rep. Colin Allred, D-Dallas, in November’s election. During Q1 of 2024, Cruz raised over $9.7M from various sources.
In a recent University of Texas poll, Cruz leads Allred by 11 percentage points.
LVS is lobbying heavily in Texas to get the legislature to back casino legislation.
Supporting Pro-Gambling Politicians
In recent years, Adelson has donated more than $4M to Texas politicians who support the opening of destination resort casinos in Texas.
These include Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan, R, and Rep. John Kuempel, R.
She also donated $1M to the reelection campaign of Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, R, in 2022. He has shown limited support in favor of casino legislation.
“We don’t want slot machines at every corner store, we don’t want Texans to be losing money that they need for everyday expenses, and we don’t want any type of crime that could be associated with gaming,” Renae Eze, Abbott’s press secretary said in a recent statement. “But, if there is a way to create a very professional entertainment option for Texans, Gov. Abbott would take a look at it.”
Miriam Adelson, like her late husband Sheldon Adelson, is a major donor to Republican politicians. In 2019-2020, the Adelsons donated more than $218M to Republican and conservative causes and politicians. Sheldon Adelson passed away in 2021.
Their son-in-law, Patrick Dumont, LVS president and governor of the Dallas Mavericks, also supports casino expansion in Texas.
“Us buying the team had nothing to do with getting gambling in Texas,” Dumont said. “Las Vegas Sands has been looking in Texas way before we ever knew we were going to buy the team.”
“Now, if there ever comes a time where those two things converge and there’s common interest there, and it makes sense, then we’ll pursue it,” he added. “But for now, I’m very focused on the Dallas Mavericks doing the things that are right for the Mavericks and Las Vegas Sands is very focused on doing things that are right for Las Vegas Sands.”
