Campaign finance records in Florida show that the gambling sector has already injected at least US$ 12.2 million into the 2026 election cycle, with the Seminole Tribe accounting for about three-quarters of the total, equivalent to US$ 9.1 million.
The data, compiled through July 31, cover donations to candidates and state committees. The Seminole Tribe, which operates the Hard Rock brand and controls a large share of gambling in the state, including online sports betting, contributed about US$ 9.1 million. The dominance is tied to the agreement with Governor Ron DeSantis, which guarantees Florida at least US$ 500 million annually for 30 years in exchange for digital sports betting rights.
Distribution of donations
Congressman Byron Donalds, a Republican candidate for governor, received about US$ 6 million from gambling interests, roughly half of the sector's total. Wilton Simpson's committee received US$ 1 million, and that of the future state Senate president, Jim Boyd, US$ 750,000. The Florida Republican Party received US$ 750,000, and the Democratic Party, US$ 200,000. Former governor Charlie Crist, a candidate for mayor of St. Petersburg, received US$ 50,000 from the Seminole Tribe.
New competitors
Beyond the tribe, betting companies and prediction platforms have joined in the donations. FanDuel donated about US$ 581,000, almost all to Donalds. DK Crown Holdings, owner of DraftKings, contributed US$ 525,000, also mostly to him. PrizePicks added nearly US$ 400,000; Kalshi, US$ 268,000; Caesars, US$ 245,000; Sports Betting Alliance, US$ 250,000; and Robinhood Markets, US$ 200,000, all for Donalds.
The next battleground is prediction markets and online gambling. It is not surprising that politicians accept money from both sides of the debate, said Daniel Wallach, a gambling and sports betting attorney from Broward County.
Local race
The money also reached local races. The US$ 50,000 donation from the Seminole Tribe to Charlie Crist stood out in the race for mayor of St. Petersburg, where there is already speculation about the tribe's broader plans in the region, including a possible use of Derby Lane, a 130-acre property, as an entertainment hub.
It is concerning to see the Seminole Tribe make a single contribution in a race in St. Petersburg with more money than some candidates were able to raise. It is a dangerous moment, said Mayor Ken Welch.
Crist's campaign said the tribe has no known interest in St. Petersburg politics beyond wanting competent government in the Tampa Bay region. Donalds' campaign stated that the donations will not steer political decisions if he is elected.
The scattering of gambling money, from state committees to local races, makes the 2026 cycle one of the clearest examples of the sector's political reach. The records indicate that the contest involves not only sports betting, but who will define the rules of digital gambling in Florida.
