Sportsbooks Invest Millions in State Political Committees
DraftKings, FanDuel, and other betting firms funneled over $80 million into a super PAC to influence state-level legislation.
Updated on Oct. 28, 2026 in Gambling
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Between November 2025 and September 2026, major sportsbooks contributed $80.65 million to the Win for America super PAC. The industry uses these funds to influence state laws governing wagering restrictions and taxes.
Why it matters
By funding committees involved in state legislative races, sports betting companies aim to block efforts to raise taxes on their operations. This strategy also helps the industry advocate for the continued expansion of legalized wagering.
Major operators including DraftKings, FanDuel, Fanatics, and bet365 contributed $80.65 million to the Win for America PAC. Sports betting is currently legal in 39 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico.
The players
DraftKings
A prominent digital sports entertainment and gaming company that provides daily fantasy sports and sports betting products.
FanDuel
A leading provider of sports betting and fantasy sports services in the United States.
Win for America
A super PAC that channels industry contributions into committees aiming to influence state-level electoral outcomes.
The details
The super PAC distributed $56.5 million to the American Conservative Fund and $20.15 million to American Future. These sub-groups subsequently directed millions to local political funds, including $9.92 million to American Conservative Fund Action Georgia and $3.5 million to the Texas Conservative Fund.
Timeline
The Supreme Court struck down the federal sports betting law in 2018.
Sportsbooks contributed the $80.65 million between November 2025 and September 2026.
Culture Shift
This political spending follows a pattern set by the 2018 Supreme Court decision striking down the federal sports betting law. The aggressive funding marks a shift toward heavy lobbying as the industry matures across 39 states.
The political influence exerted by these companies may lead to changes in local wagering restrictions or state tax rates on sports bets. Residents in states like Georgia and Texas may see increased political advertising funded by these gaming interests during local election cycles.
The takeaway
The massive influx of sportsbook capital into state politics highlights the industry's focus on securing favorable tax environments in newly legalized markets. Readers should monitor upcoming state legislative sessions for potential shifts in local gambling tax policies.
Further reading
Learn more about the evolving Gambling landscape in the United States.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Axios.
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