ReportWire

Tag: Bellagio

  • Las Vegas Sands Continues Pouring Money Into Texas Politics

    [ad_1]

    Posted on: October 14, 2025, 10:21h. 

    Last updated on: October 14, 2025, 10:32h.

    • Las Vegas Sands remains invested in Texas politics
    • Sands wants to build a casino resort in Dallas
    • Sands is heavily backing Texas Senate candidate John Huffman

    Las Vegas Sands has contributed millions of dollars to political races in Texas over the past few years. Despite little return on the many campaign contributions, the world’s largest casino operator by market capitalization is showing no signs of folding.

    Las Vegas Sands Texas politics John Huffman
    Texas Senate candidate John Huffman posted a photograph of his family looking over the Bellagio Fountains on X. Huffman is being heavily supported by the casino lobby and Las Vegas Sands, though he wrote in July that Las Vegas is not his “style.” (Image: X)

    According to campaign finance records disclosed by the Texas Ethics Commission, Texas Sands PAC last month gave state Senate District 9 Republican candidate John Huffman $500K. Huffman, a former city councilor and mayor of Southlake in the Dallas/Fort Worth suburbs, is a self-described “true fiscal conservative” who seeks to cut taxes and reduce regulation.

    Sands sees Huffman as a possible state lawmaker who might get on board with the idea of casino gambling as an economic stimulator that could lessen the tax burden on Texans, and keep the many millions of gaming dollars from flowing annually to Oklahoma tribal casinos and commercial casinos in Lake Charles, La. Huffman’s chief opponent for the November 9 special election — Republican Leigh Wambsganss — is on record saying she doesn’t believe gambling is good for society.

    The research is conclusive — gambling has a negative impact on families and has a detrimental effect on the community as a whole,” Wambsganss told the Texas Scorecard. “I do not think expanded gambling is right for Texas.”

    Huffman says voters — not state lawmakers — should decide whether casinos are right for Texas.

    If voters choose expansion, it should be limited, well-regulated, and focused on a small number of high-end destination resorts that create jobs and attract tourism,” Huffman said.

    Sands’ largest shareholder is billionaire Dr. Miriam Adelson, who, along with her son-in-law, Patrick Dumont, controls the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks. In late 2023, the Adelsons bought a 69% position in the Mavs from Mark Cuban for about $3.8 billion. 

    Casino Lobby

    Adelson’s late husband, Sheldon Adelson, the founder and longtime chair and CEO of Sands, had sought entry into Texas for many years. Adelson is carrying on her husband’s ambitions.

    Adelson’s purchase of the Mavs is thought to give the businesswoman and philanthropist an upper hand in Austin in convincing lawmakers to consider gaming. Her crusade is supported by Cuban, who believes Texas needs to diversify its leisure travel attractions. Adelson and Cuban have suggested building a new NBA arena accompanied by an integrated resort casino.

    Adelson and Sands are the lone financiers of Texas Sands PAC. In August, she gave $9.1 million to the political action committee. Sands gave $4,500.

    Adelson is also a major backer of the Texas Defense PAC. That committee gave Huffman almost $600K. The Adelson-based committees collectively account for about 94% of Huffman’s total campaign war chest.

    Political Irony

    Huffman believes it’s quite ironic that Wambsganss opposes casinos in Texas, considering her family made money off gaming. Those claims stem from her husband previously being an investor in a skill gaming manufacturing company that primarily operated in Virginia, the state in which Wambsganss was born before moving to Texas as a child with her military parents.

    Skill games in Virginia have been illegal since July 2021, though legal challenges continue. Skill games are slot-like machines that require players to identify winning paylines.

    Huffman’s support of casinos is also a bit ironic. Last summer, he posted his family’s favorite cities across the US after being “blessed to travel to all 50 states.” His review for Las Vegas wasn’t exactly an endorsement.

    We didn’t gamble — obviously — but we walked the Strip, marveled at the Bellagio Fountains, and soaked in the sensory overload. Glad the kids saw it, but no one was in a hurry to return. Just not our style,” Huffman summarized.

    The Texas politician ranked Las Vegas No. 16 among 21 major cities they visited.

    [ad_2]

    Devin O’Connor

    Source link

  • Man Sues Bellagio Over Alleged Assault by Would-Be Jackpot Thieves – Casino.org

    [ad_1]

    Posted on: October 7, 2025, 07:17h. 

    Last updated on: October 7, 2025, 09:48h.

    A Las Vegas resident, Joel Vargas-Guitierrez, has filed suit against the Bellagio, alleging negligence and inadequate security after he was assaulted by three individuals attempting to claim his slot machine winnings.

    The alleged assault took place bin a slot machine area at the Bellagio in Las Vegas. (Image: Shutterstock)

    As part of the lawsuit — filed on October 3 in Clark County District Court and first reported by the Las Vegas Review-Journal on Tuesday — Vargas-Gutierrez is also suing his three alleged assailants (two men and one woman) for assault, battery and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

    The suit seeks damages exceeding $15,000, plus attorney fees, court costs, interest, punitive damages, and other relief deemed appropriate by the court.

    Incident Details

    According to the complaint, on December 12, 2024, Vargas-Gutierrez, a regular Bellagio patron, won a $2,600 jackpot on a “Mo Mummy” slot machine. Due to the size of the payout, standard casino protocol required him to wait for an attendant to verify and process the winnings.

    While waiting, according to Vargas-Gutierrez, he moved to a nearby slot machine to continue playing. During this time, three individuals approached the original slot, saw the jackpot display, and loudly proclaimed they were entitled to the winnings.

    As Vargas‑Gutierrez attempted to resolve the dispute, the complaint alleges, one of the men advanced toward him in a threatening manner. Outnumbered, he took a swing in self‑defense, sparking a physical altercation that a bystander attempted to break up.

    No security personnel were present for any of this, according to the filing.

    The woman in the group then slapped Vargas‑Gutierrez, triggering a second confrontation in which he was tackled to the ground by her two accomplices, the complaint states.

    Security guards allegedly arrived only after the altercation had escalated significantly.

    “As a direct result of the incident, Mr. Vargas‑Gutierrez has suffered physical injuries, and mental and emotional distress which required professional medical treatment and he continues to deal with these symptoms to the present day,” the lawsuit states.

     

     

    [ad_2]

    Corey Levitan

    Source link

  • Major Bellagio Expansion Planned • This Week in Gambling

    Major Bellagio Expansion Planned • This Week in Gambling

    [ad_1]





     July 3, 2024



    We have exciting news for Las Vegas Boulevard, as there are major plans for an extensive Bellagio expansion project involving new restaurants and retail shops! It seems the powers that run the resort have realized that they are not taking full advantage of their location in the center of The Strip, and the prime viewing opportunities presented by their water feature. Well, that’s about to change.

    Known as Project Mojave in county planning documents, the Bellagio expansion will introduce a three-story plaza that extends from the hotel’s main entrance to Las Vegas Boulevard. Local architecture firm Marnell Architecture will handle the project. The existing elevated bridge connecting the Strip to the Bellagio appears slated for removal. However, any concerns over removing the fountain show would be unfounded, because… c’mon. They’re not stupid.

    The expanded space will feature a blend of upscale retail shops and dining options, with indoor venues on the first two floors and an outdoor area on the third. On top, a rooftop area will house a 10,000-square-foot nightclub with a pool, offering stunning views of the Bellagio fountains and the Strip. Additionally, there are apparent intentions to construct pedestrian bridges linking to the Cosmopolitan and Planet Hollywood.

    This Bellagio expansion initiative comes on the heels of a recent $110 million refurbishment of 819 guest rooms and 104 suites in the Spa Tower, with plans to similarly renovate 400 suites in the Bellagio tower later this year. While no official time table has been published for the work to begin, best guesses say it won’t be until after the big F1 race this fall… and “everyone” is looking forward to that.