FanDuel and DraftKings are shifting more of their political firepower towards Washington as the next phase of the US sports betting debate moves beyond state legislatures and into Congress.
OpenSecrets reporting said FanDuel spent $1.1m on federal lobbying in 2025, up sevenfold year-on-year, while DraftKings spent about $900,000, more than double the previous year.
The change matters because the policy fight is no longer only about market access at state level. Federal lawmakers are now weighing broader questions around consumer protection, gambling taxation, advertising and AI, while the industry is also trying to reverse the new 90% cap on gambling loss deductions. Separate federal proposals, including the Safe Bet Act and the Full House Act, have added to the pressure.
For FanDuel and DraftKings, Washington has become an important battleground. Both companies have also expanded their political activity beyond lobbying, with increased PAC and Committee spending reflecting a clear attempt to build influence as federal oversight of sports betting, and adjacent prediction market activity, starts to take shape.
In short, the biggest names in US sports betting are no longer just defending their positions state by state. They are preparing for a national regulatory fight.
