<ARTICLE> 5 <CIK> 850994 <NAME> Las Vegas Sands Inc <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS 12-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 DEC-31-1996 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1997 DEC-31-1996 <CASH> 9,569 298 <SECURITIES> 0 0 <RECEIVABLES> 824 916 <ALLOWANCES> 759 783 <INVENTORY> 0 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 10,023 1,241 <PP&E> 205,318 110,918 <DEPRECIATION> 38 38 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 216,725 114,109 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 32,100 7,774 <BONDS> 0 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 72,053 0 <PREFERRED> 0 0 <COMMON> 5 5 <OTHER-SE> 112,567 106,330 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 216,725 114,109 <SALES> 0 37,788 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 683 40,561 <CGS> 0 99,890 <TOTAL-COSTS> 75 99,890 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 35 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> (97) 3,666 <INCOME-PRETAX> 705 (62,995) <INCOME-TAX> 0 0 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 705 (62,995) <DISCONTINUED> 0 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 0 <CHANGES> 0 0 <NET-INCOME> 705 (62,995) <EPS-PRIMARY> 0 0 <EPS-DILUTED> 0 0