Sheldon Adelson, the billionaire casino magnate and Republican megadonor, paid a personal visit to Toronto Mayor Rob Ford Thursday to talk about a potential new casino for the city.
Mr. Adelson, 79, is the chief executive officer of Las Vegas Sands Corp., one of at least three Nevada-based gaming empires that have expressed interest in Toronto since the province announced plans to open a casino somewhere in the GTA.
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Although the McGuinty government has said it would prefer to have a sparkling new resort and gaming complex somewhere on Toronto?s waterfront, the premier has made it clear he won?t force the project on an unwilling city.
That means the next move goes to city council, which is expected to consider a city manager?s report on the pros and cons of a casino in October.
In the meantime, MGM Resorts International, Caesars Entertainment, Sands and others have begun scoping out locations and meeting with politicians to test the waters.
Mr. Adelson and five other Sands representatives were added to Toronto?s lobbyist registry one day before the CEO?s meeting with Mr. Ford.
The mayor has said he would support a casino if it brings new jobs to Toronto, but his weak sway over council means the decision likely won?t be his to make.
Mr. Adelson, whose wife Miriam also attended the meeting, didn?t say much when he left the mayor?s office Thursday. ?There are a lots of ifs,? he told the Toronto Star and the Toronto Sun before retreating to a black stretch limo in the city hall garage.
With a net worth of $24.9-billion, Mr. Adelson is the 14th richest man on the planet, according to Forbes Magazine.
The casino mogul is using some of that fortune to improve Republican fortunes this election season in the United States, where he is the country?s single largest super PAC donor, according to CBS news.
Mr. Adelson, who almost single-handedly bankrolled former Speaker Newt Gingrich?s failed bid for the Republican nomination, has switched allegiances to presumptive nominee Mitt Romney.
He has said he could spend an ?unlimited? sum on Mr. Romney?s quest to unseat President Barack Obama.
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