Key Takeaways
- DraftKings, FanDuel, Fanatics and bet365 gave a total $80.65 million to the Win for America super PAC, according to FEC filings reported by Axios.
- The money flows to Republican- and Democratic-aligned committees, including groups active in Georgia and Texas, where sports betting is not regulated.
- In New York, betting-backed super PACs spent nearly $8.3 million in 2026 as the industry pushes to regulate online casinos.
America’s biggest sportsbooks are spending heavily on state elections ahead of the November 3 midterms. DraftKings, FanDuel, Fanatics and bet365 contributed a total $80.65 million to the Win for America super PAC between November 2025 and September 2026.
Axios reports the goal is to expand regulated betting and shape state laws on taxes and wagering limits.
Who Funded the Sportsbook Super PAC
Win for America is a federally registered super PAC, a committee that can raise and spend unlimited sums as long as it doesn’t coordinate with candidates. Four operators supplied its money, and DraftKings provided nearly half, according to the Financial Times.
Cumulative contributions through September 30, 2026:
| Operator | Contribution to Win for America |
|---|---|
| DraftKings | About $39.15 million |
| FanDuel | $27 million |
| bet365 (British-owned) | $8 million |
| Fanatics | About $6.5 million |
| Total (net) | $80.65 million |
How the Money Reaches Both Parties
Win for America spreads its money across both parties. It routes funds to party-aligned committees that then target state races. The Republican-aligned American Conservative Fund received $56.5 million, while the Democratic-aligned American Future received $20.15 million.
The split leans Republican by almost three to one. Still, the bipartisan structure reflects where betting policy gets made. Since the 2018 Supreme Court ruling, each state decides whether to regulate sports betting and on what terms.
Georgia and Texas are Spending Targets States Without Regulated Betting
Some of the most notable spending lands in states that haven’t regulated sports betting at all. American Conservative Fund sent $9.92 million to American Conservative Fund Action Georgia. It also gave $3.5 million to the Texas Conservative Fund.
Both are large markets that remain closed to regulated sportsbooks. Texas lawmakers next meet in January 2027, so any regulation push there would follow the midterms.
Pennsylvania Shows the Tax Angle
Spending isn’t limited to states without regulated betting. In Pennsylvania, industry-backed PACs spent millions supporting lawmakers who opposed raising sportsbook taxes.
Taxes are a major pressure point. States collected $3.74 billion in sports betting tax and revenue share in 2025. Tax rates determine how much revenue operators keep in each state.
New York Spending Centers on Online Casinos
New York is the largest US online betting market. Since mobile sports betting launched in 2022, it has produced more than $91 billion in wagers and over $8 billion in gross revenue.
Sports-betting-backed super PACs spent nearly $8.3 million on New York races in 2026. Key spending includes:
- New York Future, funded almost entirely by FanDuel and DraftKings, spent over $3.5 million since the June primary.
- That total ranks second among all super PACs this general election cycle in the state.
- The Sports Betting Alliance gave $1.2 million to Greater Empire State, a Democratic Governors Association group backing Gov. Kathy Hochul.
- The industry also gave $500,000 to NY Families Together, which supports Attorney General Letitia James.
The industry’s main target is iGaming, meaning regulated online casino games. An online casino bill failed this year in the Senate Racing, Gaming and Wagering Committee. New York Future spent just under $240,000 boosting committee member Sen. Toby Ann Stavisky.
What Sportsbooks Want From State Lawmakers
The industry’s agenda is fairly clear from the spending pattern. Operators want more regulated markets, lower tax rates and fewer wagering restrictions.
They also face new competition. Prediction markets such as Kalshi and Polymarket offer sports contracts that have triggered court fights with state regulators, including over Nevada’s ban on Kalshi. At the federal level, the industry has lobbied against the SAFE Bet Act, which would set national standards for sports betting.
Why Watchdogs Are Raising Concerns
The scale of the spending has drawn attention. “We are seeing the sports betting industry as one of the election’s biggest spenders this year,” Joanna Zdanys of the Brennan Center said.
Transparency is another issue. New York Future’s ads support about a dozen incumbent Democrats and focus on cost of living. They never mention gambling, yet they have been seen more than 14 million times.
Regulation is also in motion. Hochul has proposed requiring sportsbooks to identify at-risk bettors and barring AI-driven targeting. The New York Gaming Commission is expected to vote on those measures in the coming months.
What the Midterms Mean for Bettors
Sports betting is regulated in 39 states, plus Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico, and more than 30 states allow online wagering. Tuesday’s results could shape what comes next on taxes, online casinos and bettor protections.
No outcome is guaranteed, and campaign spending doesn’t automatically produce new laws. Laws and operator availability change often.
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