(Bloomberg) -- Sheldon Adelson’s Las Vegas Sands Corp. is exploring the sale of its flagship casinos in Las Vegas, according to people familiar with the matter, a move that would mark the mogul’s departure from the gambling mecca.

The casino operator is working with an adviser to solicit interest from potential suitors, and may fetch $6 billion or more for its Vegas properties, said the people, who asked to not be identified because the talks are private.

The portfolio includes the Sands Expo Convention Center, the Venetian Resort Las Vegas and the Palazzo.

A representative for the company confirmed it was in very early discussions about a sale and that nothing has been finalized.

A sale would result in Adelson, one of the world’s richest men, exiting the U.S., with his remaining casino assets concentrated in Macau and Singapore.

Adelson is chairman, chief executive officer and a majority shareholder of Las Vegas Sands, which has a market value of $37.5 billion.

The stock rose as high as 12% in after-hours trading Monday, after Bloomberg reported on the news of the deal. The stock had closed down 3.1% to $49.13.

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