Las Vegas Casino mogul Sheldon Adelson has brought on board ten lobbyists in Texas, in what some see is a strong push towards legalizing gambling in the Lone Star State. Rice University Political Analyst Mark Jones says this could be a game changer.
Adelson, who owns several casinos, is a Republican mega-donor, so Jones says he already holds some sway. In Texas, he donated four-and-a-half-million-dollars to House Republican candidates this last campaign. The push comes as Texas is dealing with a revenue shortfall due to the coronavirus, which hurt sales tax returns. Casino gambling is seen by some as the best alternative to avoid cuts to social services.