Las Vegas Sands Corp. (LVS) has officially ended its brief foray into the iGaming market, shuttering its digital division just over three years after launch.
Formed in March 2022, Sands Digital Services (SDS) was based in Carson City, Nevada, with the goal of streaming live dealer casino games into regulated U.S. markets such as New Jersey, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Delaware, and West Virginia.
Despite its ambitions, the venture was closed before it could compete with major online gaming providers like Evolution, Playtech, Stakelogic, and Authentic Gaming.
In a letter to roughly 300–400 employees affected by the shutdown, LVS President and COO Patrick Dumont said the project “was no longer aligned with the company’s core long-term objectives.” The letter, published by the Las Vegas Review-Journal on October 3, confirmed the closure. The newspaper is owned by the Adelson family — including Dr. Miriam Adelson, LVS’s majority shareholder and widow of company founder Sheldon Adelson.
Strategic Shift
Under Sheldon Adelson, LVS strongly opposed online gambling, viewing it as a threat to traditional casino operations. The company shifted direction under CEO Robert Goldstein, who sold The Venetian Resort Las Vegas, Palazzo, and the Venetian Expo Center for $6.25 billion to focus on global expansion and innovation.
Though SDS is now closed, LVS — the world’s largest operator of integrated resorts — said it remains committed to exploring digital technologies that complement its core businesses in Macao and Singapore, where it operates Marina Bay Sands and five properties under the Sands China portfolio.
“The digital landscape continues to evolve, and technology and innovation will continue to play an important role in our industry,” Dumont wrote in his October 2 letter. “As a company, we will continue to explore and invest in opportunities that are in the best interests of our shareholders.”
According to the Review-Journal, around 150 of the laid-off employees were based in Las Vegas.
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