VGW Holdings has made political contributions to three political action committees in Arizona in the months leading up to the 2026 U.S. midterm elections on November 3. The sweepstakes casino operator, which owns Chumba Casino and Global Poker, wants to back lawmakers who may vote on potential sweepstakes casino bans in 2027.
Two contributions went to general congressional funds: the Senate Victory Fund PAC ($30,000) and the House Victory Fund ($30,000). The third went to Restore Order Arizona ($10,000), which is supporting Arizona Senate President Warren Petersen’s campaign to replace the sitting Arizona Attorney General.
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Why would VGW contribute to Arizona political candidates?
On June 30, 2025, the Arizona Department of Gaming sent cease-and-desist orders to several sweepstakes casinos and social sportsbooks: Stake.us, High 5 Casino, ReBet, Novig, and BettorEdge.
At the same time, the Arizona DOG issued an opinion on dual-currency sweepstakes gambling, saying it considers the activity to be illegal gambling. Operators remain active in Arizona despite the warnings, but pressures in many states have increased.
Meanwhile, VGW has sent campaign contributions to several southern U.S. states: Florida, Alabama, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Texas.
Lobbying strategy for the sweepstakes casino industry
The donations are a part of VGW’s overall lobbying strategy. As the largest sweepstakes casino operator in the United States, the Australia-based VGW Holdings generated over $5 billion in revenues in 2025.
Most of the money came from Chumba Casino, LuckyLand Slots, and Global Poker, but the online sweepstakes site industry has faced increased oversight in 2025 and 2026. State bans, cease-and-desist orders, and class-action lawsuits have put VGW on the defensive.
Therefore, it makes sense to invest money in political campaigns so that VGW has a voice in the evolving debate.
VGW’s Florida political contributions in 2026
Earlier in the year, the sweepstakes operator has invested even more in Florida. The Sunshine State’s Attorney General, James Uthmeier, recently filed a lawsuit in a Tampa state court against VGW Holdings.
So far this year, VGW has contributed $562,500 to fourteen different political action groups in Florida. That includes $150,000 to Honest Leadership PAC and $100,000 to U.S. Representative Byron Donalds.
Another $50,000 apiece went to Building On Your Dreams Political Committee, Conservatives for a Better Florida, Panhandle Prosperity, and Jennifer Canady. $25,000 apiece went to Conservative Florida and Living Life With Purpose.
The Right Path For Florida received $12,500, while Women Building the Future, Citizens for Solutions, James Buchanan, John Franklin Snyder, and Friends of Josie Tomkow each received $10,000.
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Contributions in Kentucky and Tennessee
Candidates in Kentucky and Tennessee also received contributions earlier this year. VGW Holdings donated $25,000 to Commonwealth Conservation Coalition, a political action committee in Kentucky.
It also contributed $15,000 to the gubernatorial campaign of Marsha Blackburn, who hopes to be the next governor in Tennessee. Previously, we reported that the sweepstakes casino industry donated $351,000 to candidates in Alabama.
Texas is a dark-horse candidate to enact a sweepstakes casino ban, which helps explain why VGW is investing cash in political campaigns there. All of the election campaign contributions point to the idea that 2027 will be a pivotal year for the future of sweepstakes casino legislation.
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