Virtual Gaming Worlds (VGW), the owner of Chumba Casino and LuckyLand Slots, has donated $351,000 to Alabama statewide political candidates in 2026.
VGW, Owner of Chumba, Contributes $351K to Alabama Statewide Political Races
Virtual Gaming Worlds (VGW) Holdings, the owner of Chumba Casino and LuckyLand Slots, has donated $351,000 in funds to Alabama political races for the 2026 midterm races. Over a third of that money has gone to the campaign of U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville, who is running for governor of Alabama.
The rest has gone to other state-level campaigns in Alabama. The sweepstakes casino operator is donating to the lawmakers who might vote on a new gambling regulatory bill in 2027. If you want to compare different platforms operating in this space, you can browse through a variety of options listed on this sweepstakes casinos page, alongside checking out resources covering the best new sweepstakes sites.
Funding Tommy Tuberville’s Gubernatorial Campaign
Public records show VGW Holdings as one of the March 2026 donors for the Tuberville gubernatorial campaign. At the time, the company donated $30,000.
On August 31, 2026, the sweepstakes operator made a second donation, this time worth $100,000. Those are by no means the only candidates who received funding.
Alabama Statewide Executive and Legislative Races
The remaining $221,000 went to various statewide executives and lawmakers. For instance, the Alabama Electronic Fair Campaign Practices Act (FCPA) Reporting System suggests that VGW contributed to the races for Alabama Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of State.
The race for the Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries, which has certain oversight functions involving the sweepstakes industry. Detailed funding reports are not available currently, but Wes Allen, Caroleen Dobson, and Corey Hill.
Lawmakers sitting on the Senate and House Tourism and Market Committees, which would handle any gambling expansion bills, are also included. It also donated to candidates from the Judiciary Committees, which would oversee gambling enforcement.
Why Gaming Sites Fund Alabama State Elections
No one introduced a sweepstakes casino bill in the 2026 Alabama legislature, so one might wonder why VGW Holdings is funding candidates there. A bill could include sweepstakes legislation.
In early February 2026, State Senator Merika Coleman-Evans filed Senate Bill 257 in the Alabama legislature. Eventually, five other senators signed on to the bill: Jabo Waggoner, Linda Coleman-Madison, Vivian Davis Figures, Rodger Smitherman, and Bobby Singleton.
If passed, the bill would have authorized a state lottery and added land-based casinos and retail sportsbooks to Alabama’s list of regulated gambling activities. The bill stalled in committee.
$9 Million in Political Contributions This Year
Because a new bill might be introduced in 2027, gaming operators have made over $9 million in political contributions this year. DraftKings and FanDuel have spent the most, but VGW Holdings has also contributed.
Any bill that makes it to a floor vote could include a sweepstakes casino provision. Last year’s bill failed, but adding a sweepstakes ban could gain more lawmaker support. Sweepstakes casinos have been a controversial topic for the past two years.
Virginia Donations by VGW Luckyland Inc.
The Virginia Public Access Project (VPAP) records show that VGW Luckyland Inc. has made contributions to candidates through several cycles in Virginia.
While contributions skew heavily Republican in Alabama, donations are roughly equal in Virginia, where governance is more evenly split. VGW is looking for effective contributions — not to take a political stance.
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