House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), who’s been in touch with Adelson on an intermittent basis, had been slated to speak on Saturday afternoon but was unable to attend because of the vote.

As they hopscotched from meeting to meeting, some attendees remarked that the downfall of another Las Vegas casino mogul, Steve Wynn, had positioned Adelson as a donor of singular importance in the area.

Wynn stepped down as Republican National Committee finance chair last month following revelations that he’d been accused of sexually harassing employees at his company.

“The sidelining of Steve Wynn is a blow to Republican super PACs and candidates and it makes donors like Sheldon Adelson even more important,” said Curt Anderson, a Republican strategist who accompanied Scott to the Venetian.

Republicans who ventured out to Las Vegas also sought to cultivate Adelson’s broader network of fellow RJC members. Scott, who held a number of donor meetings over the weekend, was shepherded around the Venetian by Fred Karlinsky, a Florida attorney who sits on the committee’s board of directors. Michigan Republican Lena Epstein, who is seeking a battleground House seat, was the beneficiary of a fundraiser hosted by Bobby Schostak, another board member.

And on Friday afternoon, a number of RJC members attended a fundraiser for Nevada gubernatorial hopeful Adam Laxalt at Yardbird, a Venetian restaurant that serves up Southern fare.

Also taking part in the courtship was scandal-plagued Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens, who is facing allegations that he blackmailed a woman with whom he was having an affair. A onetime rising star who was buttressed by the RJC during his 2016 gubernatorial campaign, Greitens addressed the conference on Saturday morning but made no mention of the turmoil that has overtaken him.

But Adelson, despite his absence, remained the center of attention during the three-day conference.

“Sheldon is obviously a very generous donor, and I think people across the country are very appreciative that he steps up and helps out with causes that he believes in,” said Patrick Morrisey, a West Virginia Senate candidate who spent the weekend meeting with donors.

“When you’re a candidate, you’re always looking to connect and network with a number of people who really believe in specific causes,” he added. “Sheldon’s been a leader in so many areas, and I think that’s why this is such an attractive venue for people to come to.”