Online sports betting leaders, DraftKings and FanDuel, celebrated early victories in Alabama’s Republican primaries, following a super PAC funded by the companies that invested over $9.3 million in candidates who are supportive of gambling legalization.
The American Conservative Fund stood out as the top external spender in the state’s primary elections, highlighting the expanding impact of gambling operators in local political contests as the industry seeks broader legalization across the United States.
Out of 17 candidates endorsed by the American Conservative Fund, twelve emerged victorious or were significantly ahead based on initial reports. As of the reporting time, some results were still pending confirmation from county judges.
This expenditure effort signified a crucial test for the sports betting sector’s influence on state legislatures at a time when gambling firms are increasingly investing in state-level politics due to the stagnancy in Congress.
Alabama is among the largest states in the U.S. without legalized sports betting. The Tax Foundation estimates that legalized sports wagering in Alabama could yield an extra $283 million annually for operators. Meanwhile, nationwide legalization could bring in over $15 billion in new revenue.
Fanatics Sportsbook joined forces with DraftKings and FanDuel, contributing a total of $41 million this year to the American Conservative Fund for state-level campaign expenditures across the country.
Alabama received the bulk of the PAC’s investments, with North Carolina coming in second, where over $3.5 million was spent on Republican primary campaigns.
Despite overall success, the PAC faced a loss in its most expensive race. Anti-gambling candidate Rusty Glover triumphed over Doug Harwell in Alabama Senate District 34, even though the American Conservative Fund had invested over $2.2 million backing Harwell.
Spending on Alabama’s 2026 primaries escalated significantly compared to the 2022 midterms, with issue-driven organizations being responsible for most media expenditures.
The surge of gambling-associated political funding attracted backlash from conservative factions in the state. On May 5, nine conservative organizations from Alabama urged state officials to investigate the funding sources, while another PAC associated with the Sports Gambling Alliance donated more than $1.9 million directly to local candidates.
“The expansion of this industry in Alabama poses a grave risk to our families, economy, and the spirit of our state,” stated Stephanie Smith, CEO of the Alabama Policy Institute, in a recent opinion piece. “Every voter ought to scrutinize the flashy mailings and clever campaign advertisements to ask: Who is behind this campaign, and what are their expectations?”
Previous efforts to legalize gambling in Alabama fell short in 2024, as legislation missed passing by a single vote in the state senate.