The sports betting industry has developed a sizable financial presence in New York politics, with companies and industry-backed groups putting millions of dollars behind political organizations during the 2026 election cycle. Super PACs backed by sportsbook interests have spent nearly $8.3 million on New York races this year, according to an Oct. 19 investigation by New York Focus.
Much of the attention surrounds New York Future, a super PAC financed almost entirely by FanDuel and DraftKings. The group has spent more than $3.5 million since the June primary, primarily supporting roughly a dozen incumbent Democratic state lawmakers. Its advertisements have generally focused on issues such as the cost of living rather than gambling policy.
The industry’s political spending extends beyond legislative contests. Sports betting interests have also contributed close to $2 million to super PACs backing Gov. Kathy Hochul and Attorney General Letitia James. The Sports Betting Alliance, whose members include DraftKings and FanDuel, donated $1.2 million to Greater Empire State, a Democratic Governors Association-affiliated super PAC supporting Hochul.
The Sports Betting Alliance also provided $500,000 to NY Families Together, a super PAC backing James. New York Focus calculated that the industry has contributed close to $10 million to New York elections in 2026 when combining $8 million provided to New York Future, $500,000 to NY Families Together and $1.2 million to Greater Empire State.
The political activity comes as licensed sportsbooks occupy an increasingly important place in New York’s finances. The state taxes mobile sportsbook gross gaming revenue at 51%, with most of the proceeds directed toward public education. New York also allocates $5 million annually for youth sports programs and $6 million annually for problem gambling education and treatment through its sports wagering framework.
Mobile sports wagering generated $1.3 billion in state tax revenue during State Fiscal Year 2026, making it New York’s second-largest source of gaming revenue behind the lottery. More than $91.2 billion in mobile sports bets were placed from the market’s January 2022 launch through the end of SFY 2026, generating $8.3 billion in gross gaming revenue.
That financial importance has not eliminated scrutiny. State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli reported that calls to New York’s problem gambling hotline increased 8.5% from 2020 to 2025. The state has also been confronting prediction markets. Hochul and James announced a lawsuit against Kalshi in July, alleging the company was operating an unlicensed gambling business in New York.
Meanwhile, the sportsbook industry has policy interests that extend beyond existing sports wagering. The Sports Betting Alliance has paid eight lobbying firms more than $2 million since 2023 to influence New York online gambling legislation, with iGaming among its major areas of focus. A proposal to legalize online casino gaming failed to advance from the Senate Racing, Gaming and Wagering Committee earlier this year.
None of the spending guarantees favorable legislation, and financial support for a candidate does not establish that candidate’s position was influenced by sportsbook interests. Several lawmakers supported by New York Future have backed restrictions affecting online wagering, while the group’s political advertising has largely avoided gambling issues altogether.
Still, the scale of the spending shows how sports betting companies have become participants not only in New York’s gambling market but also its political financing system. With questions surrounding iGaming, prediction markets, responsible gambling and sportsbook regulation still before policymakers, the industry’s growing election expenditures add another factor to New York’s evolving gambling debate.
