DraftKings, FanDuel, and Fanatics Are Spending $10 Million to Change Georgia’s Legislature Before Sports Betting Returns

Sports betting operators including DraftKings, FanDuel, Fanatics, and Bet365 have assembled one of the most aggressive outside spending operations in Georgia’s 2026 election cycle, committing more than $10 million to state legislative races through a super PAC network known as Win for America. The campaign follows the defeat of House Resolution 450 earlier this year, which would have put a sports betting voter referendum on the ballot in one of the last major US markets where legal wagering remains off the table.

Win for America operates through two subsidiary vehicles in Georgia. American Conservative Fund Action Georgia, a Republican-aligned group, has spent more than $7.8 million backing GOP incumbents and candidates. American Future, a Democratic-aligned group, has spent more than $2.2 million on Democratic legislative races. The combined effort spans more than 40 legislative candidates across both parties, with candidate selection based primarily on demonstrated openness to sports betting legalization rather than partisanship.

Why Georgia Matters

Georgia is one of the few remaining large US states without legal sports betting, and its population, major professional sports franchises, and college football culture make it among the most valuable untapped markets for the industry. Over 35 states currently have some form of legal sports betting, meaning Georgia residents who want to wager legally must either use offshore platforms or travel to neighboring states like Tennessee or South Carolina, both of which operate active legal sportsbook markets.

The industry’s strategy in Georgia reflects a lesson learned from earlier failed legalization attempts. Rather than focusing exclusively on lobbying registered lobbyists during session, Win for America is attempting to change who holds seats in the Georgia General Assembly before the next session begins in January 2027. Several beneficiaries of the PAC’s spending have expressed surprise at the backing, including at least two lawmakers with longstanding opposition to gambling expansion who received six-figure outside support.

The Road to Legalization

Even if Win for America’s spending helps elect a more sports betting-friendly legislature, legalizing wagering in Georgia requires an additional step: a constitutional amendment referendum, since Georgia’s constitution currently prohibits most forms of gambling. That means legislators would need to pass a bill putting the question to voters, who would then approve or reject the constitutional change at a general election. The industry’s $10.3 million in Georgia is part of a $41 million national spend by Win for America in state legislative races this cycle, with Texas, another major holdout, also a key target.

For bettors following the situation, the 2026 Georgia primary results will offer the first signal of whether the industry’s investment is moving the needle. Candidates backed by the PAC are competing in races this month, with general elections in November to follow. Whether a viable sports betting referendum bill reaches the floor in 2027 may depend significantly on how many seats change hands between now and then. Players who want to stay current on legal wagering options in Georgia can track developments at Georgia sportsbooks as the legislative picture evolves.