Kansas residents might be surprised to learn that their state Constitution, a bedrock document nearly 170 years old, explicitly declares "schemes for distribution of prize by chance," better known as gambling, to be "forever illegal." Yet, through a clever legislative "cutout," online sports gambling giants have muscled their way into the Sunflower State. Now established, these companies aren't just operating; they're spending astronomical sums to manipulate state legislative races, ensuring politicians dance to their tune.
Through a seemingly innocuous Super PAC dubbed the "American Conservative Fund" – a name that, as we'll see, proves to be a cynical misdirection – power players like DraftKings, FanDuel, Fanatics, and Bet365 have poured nearly $500,000 into Kansas state primaries this year alone. This isn't just big money; in race after race, their contributions alone eclipse the entire typical spending of a state-level election, completely distorting the democratic process.
The loophole emerged in 2022 when the Kansas state legislature passed a bill legalizing sports wagering. The trick? Gambling companies were mandated to operate through four state-owned lotteries. This maneuver effectively sidestepped the constitutional ban, creating an unholy alliance that inextricably linked the financial interests of sports betting conglomerates with the very fabric of Kansas state politics.
Under this arrangement, a portion of the gambling revenue flows to the state, which then, in theory, allocates these funds through its budget. The inherent flaw, however, is glaring: these gambling companies now possess a powerful incentive – and the means – to dictate how those taxpayer dollars are spent. And somehow, they still expect Americans not to notice.
Kansas Representative Samantha Poetter Parshall exposed the cynical reality, telling The Federalist: "They wanted the funding to go to the items that they chose, versus having it actually go to funding schools and things like that where other states use their lottery funding. They didn’t want that to change, so they’re worried about what’s being done with the tax revenue." In other words, corporate profits trump critical public services like education.
Indeed, Poetter Parshall revealed that a staggering 80 percent of the state's lottery tax revenue funnels into the "Attracting Professional Sports to Kansas Fund." This fund, ostensibly "aimed at supporting professional sports teams and facilities," is currently embroiled in a nearly $2 billion deal with the Kansas City Chiefs to finance a new stadium. Taxpayer money, siphoned off by gambling interests, directly subsidizing billionaire sports franchises instead of actual Kansans.
With the "Attracting Professional Sports to Kansas Fund" projected to rake in over $14 million in state lottery revenue this year, the quid pro quo is clear for sports betting companies: the state's spending habits continually drive more Kansans into their lucrative industry. Any shift in how these public funds are allocated directly threatens their bottom line – and they won't stand for it.
Last year, the Kansas state legislature faced a moment of truth. They had the opportunity to insert a crucial provision into the state budget, one that would allow them to review and potentially redirect how these lottery funds were being exploited each year.
Predictably, the gambling behemoths fiercely opposed this provision. Poetter Parshall confirmed their motive: they wanted no legislative scrutiny of the tax revenue generated from sports betting. Had it passed, the people’s elected representatives could have reined in the endless spigot of money flowing to the sports and entertainment industry – the very industry that fuels the betting companies. The accountability measure was defeated in 2025, but with the 2026 midterms looming, these corporate interests doubled down, determined to guarantee their favored budget allocations remained untouched.
The outcome was a full-frontal assault on Kansas's electoral process. These sports betting companies launched a massive spending spree, designed to deluge state primaries and install politicians who would safeguard their iron grip on state spending.
"Now it’s just out of control," Representative Poetter Parshall lamented. "The last election cycle, you didn’t see nearly this amount of money put into any race. I’ve never seen a state house race in Kansas with $150,000 dropped into it, but basically anyone that they thought they would be able to sway their vote got a lot of money." It's a stark admission that the scales of democracy are being heavily weighted by corporate cash.
Operating with virtually no legal spending limits, these companies have calculated that an overwhelming investment in Kansas state races is a small price to pay to secure politicians who will serve their agenda.
A seasoned veteran of Kansas state politics, with decades of experience, confided to The Federalist that a "really hot" State House general election might see $25,000 spent, with primaries far less. Yet, this single gambling-backed group swept in, dwarfing all other spending from all parties combined. The distortion is undeniable.
This veteran source described races where, just two years prior, a candidate might face three or four campaign mailers. Now, they are seeing over $70,000 unleashed in opposition ads and mailers. In one egregious instance, primary challenger Mike Storm was barraged with mailers and digital ads from the "American Conservative Fund" in a race that garnered only about 3,000 votes. The outcome, decided by a mere 119 votes, saw Storm defeated by a relentless "storm" of special interest ads, bankrolled by international corporations with bottomless pockets, utterly outspending anything a local candidate could hope to muster.
Another stark example surfaced with incumbent Kenneth Collins, who reportedly received over $61,000 from these same gambling interests. His challenger, Dan Muter, wasted no time asking the obvious: What exactly were these companies trying to buy with their hefty support?
Muter didn’t mince words, telling the Kansas Reflector: "Ken hasn’t had to spend one dime on all the mailers, the internet and TV ads, the handbills and the college kids paid to distribute them, the texts and all the other advertising on his behalf. Not one dime. They’re all paid for by the American Conservative Fund. Every dime. They’re paying for his campaign in gratitude for his past support and to ensure his future support." This isn't campaign finance; it's a blatant purchase of political loyalty.
The deceptive irony of the "American Conservative Fund" is palpable. Its political messaging makes no mention of gambling policy. DraftKings and Bet365 aren't bankrolling "conservatives" to secure the border or fight for election integrity. No, their true agenda, masked beneath vague but monetarily significant support, is far more insidious: to control state spending and protect their profits. This hidden agenda makes their spending campaign an even graver threat to honest governance.
The "American Conservative Fund" website proudly touts values like "protecting our neighborhoods," "cutting taxes and fees," and "less government bureaucracy." Noble sentiments, to be sure. However, the cold, hard money trail tells a far different story. Their true interests bear no resemblance to genuine conservative values. Instead, their deep-pocketed financiers will back any candidate, Republican or Democrat, who promises to deliver their desired legislative outcomes. Ideology is secondary; influence is everything.
Unsurprisingly, the "American Conservative Fund" remained conspicuously silent when The Federalist sought comment on its actual goals and transparency standards. Transparency, it seems, is only for others.
The puppet master behind the "American Conservative Fund" is the "Win For America PAC," formed and exclusively bankrolled by the very same gambling behemoths: DraftKings, FanDuel, Fanatics, and Bet365. Their stated mission: "to support sports betting throughout the country." But it gets worse. "Win For America" also funnels millions into a Democratic PAC, the "American Future" – a group that spouts equally vague priorities like "affordability" and "protecting vulnerable communities," while dropping over $500,000 into the Kansas gubernatorial race this year alone. They play both sides of the aisle, because for them, it's not about party; it's about power and profit.
The unifying thread connecting these two ostensibly "opposing" political action organizations is unmistakably clear: both are funded by the very same online gambling conglomerates, united in their singular objective of promoting lax sports gambling policies across state legislatures.
The Federal Elections Commission records reveal the staggering truth: the "Win For America PAC" has shelled out nearly $70 million since November 2025, all "to support sports betting throughout the country." This vast sum is predominantly channeled through their "Republican" and "Democratic" front organizations, the "American Conservative Fund" and "American Future." It’s a bipartisan assault on legislative integrity, funded by gambling interests.
In an "unsurprising admission," the "American Future PAC" – whose public messaging conveniently avoids any mention of sports gambling – explicitly told Atlanta Civic Circle that its true goal is to back candidates who will be "warm to policies that make or keep online sports gambling legal." The mask slips, revealing the true agenda.
When pressed about their spending in states where sports gambling remains illegal, "American Future" offered the predictable corporate boilerplate: "in states across the country, legal online sports wagering provides an important source of tax revenue that supports priorities like education — not to mention contributing to job growth and other community investment. We seek candidates who will thoughtfully approach this opportunity and the revenue and jobs legal sports betting could provide." It's the same tired song-and-dance: "It’s for the children!" when in reality, it's for their profits.
Like its "conservative" counterpart, "American Future" also declined to respond to The Federalist’s request for comment. Silence, in this case, speaks volumes.
The cancer of corporate gambling influence isn't confined to Kansas. In Georgia, a state that has wisely resisted legalizing sports gambling, these same Super PACs have emerged as the top independent spenders in this year's state-level elections, unleashing over $10 million into primary races for candidates on both sides of the political spectrum. The "American Conservative Fund" funneled nearly $8 million to support 29 Republican congressional candidates, while "American Future" pumped approximately $2.3 million into promoting 10 Democrats. That's an average of over a quarter-million dollars per candidate in Georgia state primaries – a shocking sum designed to buy loyalty, not win votes.
This relentless spending isn't a new strategy for the gambling industry; it's a well-honed weapon. Sports betting remained largely illegal under federal law until a 2018 Supreme Court decision. In the mere eight years since, gambling companies have orchestrated a "massive lobbying campaign," resulting in "the fastest expansion of legalized gambling in American history." As of 2026, some form of sports gambling is now legal in 35 states and Washington D.C. – a testament to the power of big money over principled resistance.
The consistent pattern across every race "Win For America" has chosen to "meddle" in is the same: their funding alone utterly swamps the competition, leaving opponents to fight from a staggering financial deficit. They are actively attempting to buy elections in states from Kansas and Georgia to Alabama, Maryland, Texas, and Pennsylvania, positioning themselves to be among the largest spenders in the 2026 midterm elections. The most alarming aspect? The "American Conservative Fund" and "American Future" deliberately obscure their true motives, never explicitly linking their messaging to gambling. This calculated deception ensures that the millions spent by private gambling interests to dictate policy remain shrouded in secrecy, keeping the American public in the dark.
This brazen attempt by online gambling conglomerates to subvert state elections and corrupt legislative processes is a direct assault on American democracy and public trust. It highlights a critical need for genuine transparency and accountability in campaign finance, ensuring that the will of the people, not the deep pockets of special interests, determines the future of our states. True conservatives must stand firm against such insidious corporate overreach, defending the integrity of our electoral system and the sovereignty of our citizens from those who seek to gamble with our nation’s future for their own cynical gain.
