Out-of-state gambling interests are investing heavily in Alabama for the 2026 election cycle, with candidates receiving funds through various political action committees (PACs).
The issue of gaming, including internet, lottery and casinos, is likely to return in the next quadrennium after failing to pass the legislature by a single vote in 2024.
SV&B PAC in Montgomery has donated $718,500 to various state candidates since January 2025, while receiving more than $1.25 million in donations from the Sports Betting Alliance during the same period, according to the Alabama Secretary of State's website. The Alliance is a Virginia-based online gambling advocacy group representing Bet 365, BetMGM, DraftKings, Fanatics and FanDuel.
State Sen. Jay Hovey (R-Auburn) has been the top recipient of SV&B PAC funds for the past year at $50,000, followed by State Senate hopeful Doug Harwell with $45,000.
Harwell's opponent in the SD34 race, former State Sen. Rusty Glover (R-Semmes), accused Harwell of taking money from a "dark" and "mysterious" PAC, referring to SV&B.
Harwell previously told 1819 News that he had met with SV&B PAC and discussed how he would only vote for a "good bill" that lets the people decide on gambling.
SEE: Dark money, push polling allegations cause clash in Mobile-area State Senate race
Hovey also said his decision on gambling would not be influenced by money, but rather guided by "common sense."
"Every day, countless Alabamians drive through my district on their way to purchase Georgia lottery tickets and help fund Georgia's education, which is why I voted to give the people of Alabama a chance to decide if they wanted the same opportunity in our state," he told 1819 News. "My position on gaming isn't guided by contributions; it's guided by common sense — we've got to admit that it's already happening in Alabama and stop sending our tax dollars over the border to other states. It needs to ultimately be the people's choice."
State Rep. James Lomax (R-Huntsville), who is in a heated race against former U.S. Rep. Mo Brooks for HD20, is the top recipient of SV&B funds in the State House of Representatives (fifth-highest in the legislature) with $30,000 received since January 2025.
Like Harwell, another apparently pro-gambling group out of Arlington, Va., the American Conservative Fund, sent out mailers supporting Lomax for reelection, though mistakenly for Senate rather than the House. According to Federal Election Commission (FEC) records, the Fund received $500,000 from Win for America, which is entirely funded by a $2 million donation from DK Crown Holdings, Inc., the corporate entity for DraftKings.
Lomax said his campaign had nothing to do with the mailer sent by an outside third party and that, regardless, his position on gambling remains uninfluenced and unchanged.
"The people of Alabama, including those in District 20, deserve the opportunity to vote and make their voices heard on a lottery, for or against," he said. "As I've said before, if such a measure were on the ballot, I would personally vote no. In reality, gambling is already in our society via federally legalized prediction markets, which Mo Brooks did nothing to curtail during his twelve years in Congress, where he passed one single bill, and all it did was rename a post office. My focus in the legislature has been advancing a conservative agenda, lowering the cost of living for families, and ensuring responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars."
Brooks said the PACs were "laundering" money to obscure the true source of donations surrounding a controversial issue.
"Gambling empires are placing their bets on the legislative candidates they believe they can most easily manipulate to do the wrong thing for Alabama citizens," he told 1819 News. "… What we're seeing with the laundering of this gambling empire money is just the tip of the iceberg, with the way in which public policy is bought and sold by special interest groups in Montgomery. And that's one of the reasons why, in this election, I have publicly stated that I will take zero special interest-packed money. Because I don't want to start out my service as a state legislator with a bunch of IOUs to special interests who, by their very definition, seek special laws that will pad their wallets, usually at citizen or taxpayer expense."
State Sen. Chris Elliott (R-Josephine) and Senate President Pro Tempore Garlan Gudger (R-Cullman) were also among the top five recipients of SV&B PAC money since January 2025, receiving $40,000 and $35,000, respectively.
"Unfortunately, raising money is a part of running for office, but I cast all of my votes based upon my conscience and conservative beliefs, and I've voted against contributors more times than I can count," Elliot said. "As Ronald Reagan once said, folks contribute money to my campaign because they support me, not because I support them."
Gudger said, "My position on gaming has been consistent, remains unchanged, and isn't influenced by anyone. It has been 27 years since Alabamians were last allowed to vote their conscience on the gaming issue, and after more than a quarter of a century, they deserve another opportunity to let their voices be heard."
The North Alabama PAC, which has donated to many Alabama candidates, has also taken money from the Sports Betting Alliance.
The Poarch Creek Indian PAC, the newly established political arm of the Poarch Creek Band of Indians, has donated $190,000 to lawmakers since Nov 2025, according to online records.
Erica Thomas contributed to this article.
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