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- Republican gubernatorial nominee Byron Donalds has raised a staggering $131 million in the Florida governor’s race, receiving significant financial backing from major gambling industry players, including a massive $5.5 million contribution from the Seminole Tribe of Florida.
- The influx of gaming-linked campaign funding, which also includes $500,000 donations from both DraftKings and FanDuel, highlights the political influence of sportsbook operators in a state where the Seminole Tribe exclusively controls legal mobile sports betting through Hard Rock Bet.
Republican gubernatorial nominee Byron Donalds has raised $131 million in Florida’s governor race, with major support from gambling-linked donors including the Seminole Tribe of Florida, DraftKings and FanDuel, according to a Tampa Bay Times analysis published Oct. 2.
The funding gap is one of the clearest contrasts in the race. The Times reported that Democratic challenger David Jolly has raised $16 million as of Sept. 18, even as polling shows a single-digit contest. For gambling industry readers, the notable detail is how much of Donalds’ support comes from companies and interests tied to Florida betting and casino politics.
Seminole Tribe and sportsbooks appear among major donors
The Times said the gaming and casino sector accounts for roughly 10% of all large-dollar donations to Donalds. The biggest named contributor in that category was the Seminole Tribe of Florida, which gave $5.5 million.
That matters because the tribe owns Hard Rock Casino and Hard Rock Bet, which the report described as Florida’s only legal mobile sportsbook.
The analysis also identified DraftKings and FanDuel as donors, with each giving $500,000 to Donalds. The source did not say whether those donations were tied to any specific policy ask, but their presence adds a sports betting angle to a race that is otherwise being framed around campaign finance and national donor influence.
Billionaire and out-of-state money dominate Donalds’ fundraising
The Times reported that at least 18 billionaires have contributed to the race and that 17 gave to Donalds. Those 17 billionaire donors accounted for $23.3 million, or about 18% of his total fundraising.
Among the largest billionaire-backed support cited in the report was Jeff Yass, whose contributions totaled $11 million through direct giving and committee support. The DeVos family was also listed among Donalds’ wealthy backers, with a combined $1 million in contributions.
By contrast, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker was the only billionaire identified as giving to Jolly, contributing $50,000.
Donalds’ fundraising base also extends well beyond Florida. The Times said more than $39 million, or about 30%, of his money came from outside the state. Nearly 60% of his unique donors had out-of-state addresses, compared with 32% for Jolly.
Why it matters for Florida gambling politics
The source stops short of linking the donations to any pending regulatory action. Still, the donor list underscores how gambling-related interests—ranging from commercial sports betting entities to broader digital online casino and wagering stakeholders—are participating in one of the country’s highest-profile state races.
Florida is a particularly important market because the Seminole Tribe controls the state’s legal mobile sports betting channel through Hard Rock Bet. The appearance of DraftKings and FanDuel on Donalds’ donor rolls is also notable given their long-running interest in the Florida market.
The Times analysis covered fundraising through Sept. 18. It did not state how much either candidate has raised since then or whether any of the donations face legal or regulatory review.
Source: As reported by Ashley Borja; Michael Van Sickler.
