Elections/Voting

Sports wagering companies target Kansas House races

July 14, 2026

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The ads says they’re sponsored by the American Conservative Fund.

They extol the values of standing against the left, supporting President Donald Trump, banning gender transition surgery, safeguarding election integrity, cutting property taxes, supporting family farms, supporting gun rights and opposing abortion.

But peel back the layers a little bit and you’ll find that the ads aren’t bankrolled by some traditional conservative group.

While the ads don’t mention sports wagering, they are paid for by a coalition of sports wagering platforms – FanDuel, DraftKings and Fanatics Betting & Gaming.

Those companies have put $41 million into a new group called Win for America, according to federal campaign finance reports.

Win for America has funneled cash into another group called the American Conservative Fund, which is funding the ads in Kansas and elsewhere across the country.

Two of the three sports wagering companies didn’t respond to emails seeking comments. One declined to comment.

The fund is financing primary campaigns in support of Republican state Reps. Ken Collins of Mulberry, Lance Neelly of Tonganoxie, Ken Corbet of Topeka, Avery Anderson of Newton, Kyler Sweely of Hutchinson, and Adam Smith of Weskan.

They all have primary opposition on Aug. 4

Collins, Neelly, Corbet and Anderson all supported legalization of sports wagering in 2022. Smith voted against the sports wagering bill. Sweely was not in the Legislature when sports wagering was enacted.

The group also is supporting two new Republican candidates – Tyler Coats of El Dorado and Casey Slaughter of Wichita – who were not in the Legislature when sports wagering passed.

The American Conservative Fund reported receiving $26.1 million in the first quarter of this year, all from Win for America.

Federal and state campaign finance reports indicate that the American Conservative Fund has put money into campaigns in other states such as Georgia, Texas and Pennsylvania.

For example state campaign records show that the American Conservative Fund has poured about $8.5 million into state legislative races in Georgia this year. It also put another roughly $3 million into a group called Win for Pennsylvania.

It’s not clear yet how much money is being spent in Kansas.

The Kansas House candidates supported by the American Conservative Fund said they knew nothing about how the group was funded and there was a mixed view about sports wagering among them.

“I was kind of surprised when I saw those ads,” Smith said.

“I wasn’t even aware of who they were or what they were doing,” he said.

“Historically, I’ve not been a big proponent of gaming and gambling. So, if that’s who’s behind this, I’m curious why they’re getting involved in my race,” he said.

Smith has primary opposition from Paul Simoneau of Goodland. Simoneau is running on a platform of lowering property taxes, fostering economic development and public

Collins, the Republican incumbent in House District 2, said he’s had more of a favorable record on gaming, but added that he had nothing to do with the ad.

“I appreciated the ad, that they’re doing it, he said. “Looking back, I have voted for things that would be favorable to that business. I don’t really have anything other than that to say about it.”

Collins has Republican primary opposition from Daniel Muter of Pittsburg, a retired longtime pastor.

Sweely, who is running in House District 102, also said he wasn’t aware who was financing the ads, adding that he can’t control what outside groups might say about him during a campaign.

“I didn’t realize they were backing me,” he said. “I’ve been so busy door knocking and I have another job now, too, so I don’t even have time to get on social media or streaming or wherever this is playing.

“I don’t know much about that group or anything like that,” he said.

Sweely is facing a Republican primary challenge from Tyler Thrall, who ran against the incumbent for the seat in the 2024 primary and lost with 43% of the vote.

Coats, the legislative director for outgoing House Speaker Dan Hawkins who is running in House District 75, said he was surprised by the ad. He added that he was frustrated that the ad used pictures of his son taken from social media.

“I don’t have an issue with sports gambling or any type of gambling,” he said. “You’re a grown adult. You can do what you want to do with your own money. I don’t see an issue with that.”

Coats has primary opposition from Javion Napier of Towanda

Slaughter, too, said he had nothing to do with the ad. He was astounded where the ad producers got pictures of him.

“I don’t even know how to feel about it, I guess,” he said of the ads, adding that he knows little about sports wagering.

“I’m a gambling guy, for sure. I love video poker. That’s my thing,” he said. “I don’t like slot machines. I don’t like anything else. I like video poker.”

Slaughter is running for the 101st District seat that has been represented by Republican incumbent Joe Seiwert. He faces Kevin D O’Brien of Cheney in the Republican primary.

Here’s a look at all the ads that are running across the state on various platforms.

ACF/House 2/Collins