Sportsbook Political Spending Reaches $72 Million – What It Means for Video Poker Regulation

Online sportsbook operators have committed at least $72 million to US political groups during the 2026 election cycle, according to a report from iGaming.org. While the headline figures come from DraftKings and FanDuel, the funds are aimed at state gambling laws, tax policy and prediction market rules – the same legislative environment that governs video poker licensing, route operator taxation and machine placement in bars, casinos and truck stops.

The spending is concentrated through a single super PAC, Win for America, created in late 2025. By the end of the first quarter of 2026, the PAC had already received $43 million. DraftKings contributed at least $34 million, FanDuel at least $27 million. Bet365 used its US subsidiary Hillside Shared Services US LLC to funnel donations. “Win for America is ramping up to be another corporate money juggernaut,” said Rick Claypool, research director at Public Citizen, which tracks campaign finance.

Why video poker players should care

Video poker is a staple of Class II and Class III gaming in commercial and tribal casinos, as well as in state-licensed video poker machine routes in states like Louisiana, West Virginia and Montana. The same state legislatures and governors who decide sportsbook taxes also set the rates for video poker revenue, license fees and machine caps. When a PAC buys mailers, television ads or direct lobbying in a state, it is often simultaneously influencing the regulatory framework for every form of gambling, including video poker.

Georgia has become a major battleground. Lawmakers there continue to debate full gambling legalization, which could bring new video poker machines into convenience stores and truck stops. Win for America affiliates have spent more than $12 million on state legislative races in Georgia alone, targeting both parties. A separate super PAC, American Future, backs Democratic candidates; the American Conservative Fund supports Republicans. Both receive funding through Win for America.

Key facts
| Metric | Amount |
|—|—|
| Total disclosed sportsbook contributions (2026 cycle) | $72 million |
| DraftKings contributions | $34 million |
| FanDuel contributions | $27 million |
| Win for America super PAC total by end of Q1 2026 | $43 million |
| Georgia state legislative race spending by Win for America affiliates | $12 million+ |

Direct lobbying grows as well

Beyond super PAC money, sportsbook companies have sharply increased federal lobbying. FanDuel spent $1.1 million on federal lobbying in 2025, roughly seven times its 2024 total. DraftKings spent about $900,000, more than double its earlier annual figure. Fanatics, BetMGM and other operators also work through the Sports Betting Alliance, a coalition that pushes for gambling-friendly legislation at both the state and federal levels.

Public Citizen ranks online sports betting as the third-largest corporate contributor in the current midterm cycle, behind cryptocurrency and technology firms. The $72 million figure is likely incomplete – not all states require disclosure for every committee, and some contributions may flow through third-party intermediaries that are not immediately traceable.

Prediction market conflict adds uncertainty

The political spending comes as prediction platforms Kalshi and Polymarket argue they can offer sports event contracts under federal CFTC oversight, bypassing state licensing. Several state regulators have classified those products as unlicensed sports wagering, a dispute that could end up in court. If prediction markets are allowed to operate without state gambling licenses, they could undercut the revenue that states collect from video poker and other regulated games. Sportsbook operators are spending political money to prevent that outcome, and the same regulatory decisions will affect video poker route holders who depend on exclusive state licensing.

For video poker operators and players, the takeaway is that the $72 million is not just a sportsbook story. The same legislative sessions, tax votes and regulatory hearings will decide whether video poker machine taxes rise, whether new venues can be licensed, and whether existing routes face additional restrictions. Keeping an eye on which PACs are active in your state can provide an early signal of coming policy changes.

Source: iGaming.org – Sportsbook Political Contributions In United States Reach $72 Million (https://igaming.org/sports-news/sportsbook-political-contributions-in-united-states-reach-72-million/)

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