DraftKings and FanDuel Drop $9.3 Million in Alabama Primary to Push Sports Betting Legalization

DraftKings and FanDuel spent more than $9.3 million through the American Conservative Fund super PAC in Alabama’s Republican primary elections on Tuesday, making the sportsbook-backed group the highest-spending outside organization in the state’s races. The investment targeted state legislative candidates seen as favorable to gambling legalization, as the two dominant US sportsbook operators continue a state-by-state political strategy aimed at opening the remaining holdout markets before their competitors can establish a foothold.

Alabama stands out as one of the most significant untapped markets in the country. The state has no lottery, no licensed commercial casinos, and no legal online sports betting. Its residents have long relied on offshore platforms or simply gone without. Yet Alabama’s culture around college football — and the intense rivalry between the Alabama Crimson Tide and Auburn Tigers fanbases — suggests pent-up demand for legal wagering that could translate into real volume once the market opens.

How the Industry’s Political Playbook Works

The American Conservative Fund has become the primary vehicle for the sports betting industry’s state-level political spending. The PAC spent more in Alabama’s Tuesday primary than any other outside group, according to reporting from Bloomberg News. The second-largest spender was a crypto-backed PAC, underscoring how technology industries with significant regulatory stakes are increasingly treating state legislatures as a primary battleground.

The strategy is straightforward: incumbents who blocked legalization are replaced by candidates who support it. In Georgia, DraftKings, FanDuel, and Fanatics spent $10 million in the 2026 cycle targeting a similar set of lawmakers. Georgia has seen sports betting bills fall short repeatedly, and the industry apparently concluded that electoral strategy is more reliable than lobbying a resistant legislature. Alabama could follow the same arc if the primary investments yield favorable general election outcomes in November.

What Bettors in Alabama Should Know

For sports fans in Alabama who want to bet legally, the options today are limited. Legal sports betting requires either crossing into a neighboring state or using tribal gaming options where they exist. The political investment does not guarantee legislation will pass in the next session — winning candidates still need to get bills through both chambers and past a governor who has historically been skeptical of expanded gambling.

That said, the industry is clearly treating Alabama as a priority market. DraftKings and FanDuel do not spend $9.3 million without a serious belief that legalization is achievable. If Tuesday’s primary results hold through November and new lawmakers take office, Alabama sports betting could appear on the 2027 legislative calendar. Bettors tracking the situation can find the latest updates at Alabama sports betting as the political picture develops after this week’s primaries.