Sports Betting Companies Put $72 Million into US Midterms

WASHINGTON: DraftKings, FanDuel, Fanatics and bet365 have contributed at least $72 million to groups active in the 2026 US midterms. The spending makes online betting one of the largest sources of corporate election money this cycle.

Most of the disclosed contributions went to Win for America, a super political action committee formed in November 2025. The group directs money into organizations supporting candidates in Democratic and Republican state races.

Sportsbooks Fund Win for America

Federal Election Commission records show Win for America received $43 million through the first quarter of 2026 and another $29 million during the second quarter. The committee reported $72 million in total receipts through June 30.

DraftKings contributed at least $34 million to the group, while FanDuel provided at least $27 million. Fanatics and bet365 each contributed $5.5 million, with bet365 making its donation through its US subsidiary, Hillside Shared Services US.

DraftKings has also given at least $1 million to other political committees, while FanDuel has contributed an additional $2 million outside Win for America. Federal records do not capture every form of political spending, including some state-level activity and donations routed through organizations that are not required to disclose their contributors.

Super PACs can accept unlimited contributions from companies and individuals and spend money supporting or opposing candidates. They cannot donate directly to campaigns or coordinate their spending with the candidates they support.

Georgia and Pennsylvania Races Draw Spending

Win for America has directed funds into American Future, which supports Democratic candidates, and the American Conservative Fund, which backs Republicans. The structure allows the betting industry’s political spending to reach legislative races involving both major parties.

More than $12 million was spent through the two affiliated groups in Georgia, where lawmakers have considered proposals to legalize sports betting and other forms of gambling. The money reached 34 legislative races before the state’s primary elections, with all but two of the supported candidates winning.

The PAC has also spent heavily in Pennsylvania, where lawmakers have debated increasing taxes on online sports betting to help fund public transportation. The activity shows how operators are directing resources toward state races that could influence gambling taxes, market access and licensing policy.

Political support does not guarantee that an elected candidate will vote for legislation favored by a donor. The scale of the contributions nevertheless gives the industry a significantly larger role in state policy debates than it held during previous election cycles.

Prediction Markets Raise Political Stakes

The spending increase comes as traditional sportsbooks face growing competition from prediction-market platforms such as Kalshi and Polymarket. Those companies offer event contracts tied to sports, elections and other outcomes while arguing that their products fall under federal financial regulation.

Sportsbook operators generally work through state gambling licenses and are subject to state taxes, product rules and advertising requirements. Prediction markets have challenged that model by offering sports-related contracts across multiple states without obtaining conventional sportsbook licenses.

States have also moved to tighten restrictions on election betting and prediction markets, creating another policy issue with direct implications for the online betting sector. The resulting disputes involve market competition as well as the division of authority between state gambling regulators and federal agencies.

Public Citizen estimates that online betting is the third-largest source of corporate political contributions in the midterm cycle, behind cryptocurrency and technology companies. With further state tax, licensing and prediction-market decisions expected, political spending by the industry may continue beyond the $72 million already disclosed.

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