Sportsbook-Funded Super PACs Restart Ads Before the Midterms
A network of super PACs funded by DraftKings, FanDuel, Fanatics and bet365 has resumed political advertising ahead of the November 3, 2026 midterm elections.
The vote decides control of Congress and more than 6,000 state legislative seats, and state lawmakers are the ones who set the rules and tax rates for US sportsbooks. Sportico reported the restart on October 16, 2026.
Ads Return After A Summer Pause
According to Sportico, the PACs spent heavily on state primary advertising in the first half of 2026 without telling viewers that betting companies were behind it. Together they have received almost $100 million from betting firms over the past year.
They stayed out of general election contests on Meta and Google platforms over the summer. On October 6, American Future PAC paid to begin running digital ads on those platforms, according to transparency records cited by Sportico.
It has since spent at least $30,000 across 10 promotions aimed at state races in Alabama, Illinois, Georgia and Maryland.
TV, Mail And Digital Spending
American Future may also be reaching voters through television and mailers. Sportico said that on September 30 the PAC paid The Pivot Group $54,920.84 for mailers and Targeted Platform Media LLC $194,007 for television advertising, and paid a firm called Sway $347,343 for digital advertising on the same day.
American Future's ads do not mention gambling. Sportico described a shift from primary-season attacks on rival Democrats to positive messages for chosen Democrats and criticism of selected Republicans.
Both Parties Are Covered
The operators fund a Republican counterpart, American Conservative Fund PAC, through an organisation called Win for America PAC. Win for America receives money directly from the sportsbooks and passes it on to the wider network of pro-betting PACs.
Sportico said that in the latest quarter Win for America sent $5.9 million to American Conservative Fund and $2.7 million to American Future.
Neither the Republican-aligned PAC nor its subsidiaries were yet running general election ads on Google or Meta, though American Conservative Fund gave $200,000 on September 15 to Moving Arizona Forward PAC, which supports Arizona Republicans. A representative for Win for America did not immediately respond to Sportico's request for comment.
Why It Matters For Bettors
Online sportsbooks and casinos are regulated state by state, so legislative races shape licensing, taxes and whether more states legalise betting.
Sportico noted that prediction markets are the notable exception. Our US news hub tracks those developments.
Whether the Republican-aligned arm follows American Future onto the big platforms before Election Day is the next thing to watch.
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