Mobile sports gambling operators DraftKings, FanDuel place their bets in NYS races

ALBANY — An outside group funded by gambling interests is getting involved in a number of state Assembly races from Queens to Buffalo.

New York Future is funded by DraftKings and FanDuel, two of the mobile sports betting operators in the state. The gambling companies seeded the group with $2.5 million, which dwarfs their previous political donations.

New York Future’s goal appears to be boosting more moderate Democrats and beating back Democrats allied with the Democratic Socialists of America and the Working Families Party, who have campaigned on promises to increase taxes on businesses and wealthy New Yorkers.

Blair Horner, a senior policy adviser with the New York Public Interest Group, said in general, business interests tend to back more moderate Democrats. But backing incumbents against primary challengers also is a way for business groups to curry favor with legislative leaders, he said.

"The leadership wants to look out for the incumbent members of their conference, and so in a way, you can ingratiate yourself to the leadership and all it will cost you is some money," he said.

The effort comes as DraftKings and FanDuel have entered into prediction markets, which enable users to place money on event contracts, essentially mirroring sports betting.

Prediction markets are not subject to the same state regulations and tax rate as casinos and sports betting operations.

The prediction market Kalshi sued the state Gaming Commission last year after it ordered Kalshi to shutter its New York operations.

"Legal online sports wagering is an important source of tax revenue that supports public schools and education — not to mention thousands of jobs and other community investment," a spokesperson for New York Future said in a statement. "We seek candidates who will thoughtfully approach regulation and ensure legal sports betting can continue to generate revenue and jobs for the state."

Important market

New York is a major market for gambling companies. In 2025, New Yorkers bet $26.3 billion.

So far, New York Future’s spending has largely been on polling and research for a handful of contested state Assembly races, according to state campaign finance records.

It has spent $378,768 so far, with $279,000 going to the Parkside Group, the longtime lobbying and communications firm for the Sports Betting Alliance, an umbrella advocacy group for gambling companies.

The group has indicated it will support a number of incumbent Democrats who are facing primary challenges from the left, including several members who sit on the state Assembly’s Committee on Racing and Wagering.

The gambling entities are upping their financial presence as some state legislators have advanced legislation to help address problem gambling in New York and put limits on gambling companies' operations.

In March, the Assembly passed a package of bills aimed at addressing problem gambling and limiting operators’ ability to advertise.

None of those bills have passed the state Senate. Only one has made it out of committee.

New legislation

State Sen. Joseph Addabbo (D-Ozone Park), who chairs the Racing, Gaming and Wagering Committee, is sponsoring legislation to authorize the state attorney general to regulate prediction markets in New York.

Addabbo is one of two state senators New York Future indicated it would support, according to its filing with the state Board of Elections. The other is Sen. Toby Ann Stavisky (D-Whitestone), an influential voice in the state Senate who also sits on the Racing, Gaming and Wagering Committee.

Addabbo did not return a call for comment.

At least one of the Assembly candidates New York Future is backing has rejected the group's support.

Eli Northrup, who is running against fellow Democrat Stephanie Ruskay to replace Assemb. Micah Lasher in Manhattan's 69th Assembly District, criticized a negative ad New York Future is running against Ruskay in a social media post.

New York Future also created a website, therealstephanieruskay.com, criticizing her.

"I denounce all IE involvement — whether supporting me or opposing me — and am calling on any IE to immediately cease spending and take down any negative ads," Northrup wrote, referring to independent expenditures by outside groups.

Northrup's comments were first reported by City & State.

Outside groups like New York Future are not allowed to coordinate with candidates’ campaigns.

The only race New York Future has indicated it will get involved in north of the Bronx is in the 149th Assembly District, in Buffalo.

Adam Bojak, one of three Democratic candidates seeking to replace Assemb. Jonathan Rivera, said he noticed an ad from New York Future supporting Karen Hoak, one of his opponents, on Wednesday.

Bojak, who is endorsed by the Democratic Socialists of America, said a consultant from New York Future reached out to the campaign months ago but his campaign never responded.

Bojak believes New York Future is opposing him because of his record of supporting increased taxes on the rich and getting "dark money" out of state elections.

"I don't know this for sure, but the way I read it is that they understand that we have a political program that stretches across the state that is going to make changes that they're not going to like, and so they're going to oppose that at all costs," he said.

National activity

The New York Legislature is not the only statehouse where DraftKings and FanDuel are seeking greater influence.

The two companies, along with Fanatics, have put $41 million into a group called Win for America, according to a filing with the Federal Election Commission.

Win For America is operating two other groups. American Future will focus on Democratic primaries, and American Conservative Fund will focus on Republican ones, according to The New York Times.

The website for New York Future mirrors that of American Future, with no mention of sports betting.

Both groups say they are “committed to electing strong, bold Democrats to state houses across the country who will fight for our future” and promise to focus on issues like housing, reducing gun violence, healthcare, education and affordability.