Station and Sands eyeing Lone Star opportunities
The Fertittas, founders of Station Casinos, are eying an opportunity to return to their roots.
The casino operator is part of the Texas Gaming Alliance, reports the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Las Vegas Sands Corp. is also a member of the group which is chaired by Dallas businessman Jack Pratt, who headed the former Hollywood casinos company.
According to article, the alliance is proposing a dozen resort-style casinos for Texas. Three race tracks and three recognized Native American tribes in Texas could add slot machines under the plan.
The Texas Legislature is expected to be told that casinos in the Lone Star State could bring in billions of dollars in tax revenues and add thousands of jobs. By law, Texas voters must approve a constitutional amendment.
Casino gaming has been long proposed in Texas, but has failed to get much beyond the discussion stage.
The Fertitta family is from the Galveston area, a resort island that was hammered last fall by Hurricane Ike.
Casinos in neighboring Oklahoma and Louisiana continue to attract Texas residents. Legalized casinos proponents said gaming in Texas could keep those tax revenues within the state.
