The three major political action committees working to change Florida’s gambling laws in 2022 reported they raised less than $100 but spent more than $7 million, according to June finance reports.
In addition, some of the best-known names in gaming contributed more than $52 million to political committees backing proposed constitutional amendments that would expand the state’s gaming industry.
The committee Florida Education Champions, a joint effort between DraftKings and Fan Duel, reported raising $20 million in June, evenly split between the two sports betting platforms. In July, it added just $87 but spent more than $3.4 million. The committee is promoting an amendment to open the state’s sports betting market to anyone. It started off August with $16.43 million in the bank.
Nearly half of the committee’s expenditures, $1.57 million, went to Advanced Micro Targeting for voter contact efforts. Another $1.03 million went to Election Management Solutions for mailers and postage. Election Connections received $560,000 for phone outreach. And Supernova Digital Communications received $165,000. Other firms and consulting groups, such as law and lobbying firm Gunster, received 5-figure checks.
Meanwhile, Florida Voters in Charge, a committee backed by Las Vegas Sands that wants to bring casino gambling to the Jacksonville area, in June showed no income and $3.8 million in spending. However, the late Sheldon Adelson’s multibillion-dollar casino company gave $17 million to the committee, which ended July with $13.27 million on hand.
Florida Voters in Charge is backing a proposed amendment that would authorize up to three existing cardroom license holders to offer full-fledged casino gaming if they’re located at least 130 miles from tribal lands. The committee also backs another amendment allowing up to three new casinos in the state, to be located at least 100 miles from tribal lands.
The committee started gathering signatures in July, spending $3.75 million on petition gathering services at Game Day Strategies. The committee also spent $29,750 on polling through Cygnal and paid $10,000 for consulting from Bascom Communications.
The third PAC, People Against Regulatory Legislation Addressing You reported no expenditures in June. It’s backed by Magic City Casino, which deposited $15 million for the committee in June.
The Seminole Tribe of Florida has not yet reported finance numbers for a its new committee, Voters in Control, that opposes gambling expansions the tribe received through its new gaming compact. The committee was launched with a $10 million contribution from the tribe, but an account of its June activity was not yet available.
