Utah AG Derek Brown Receives Donations From Gambling Interests

Utah Attorney General Derek Brown Targets Online Betting Amid Campaign Donations

Utah Attorney General Derek Brown has started a bullish push against online gambling while simultaneously accepting tens of thousands of dollars in campaign contributions from competing gambling interests.

The state’s aggressive stance centers on a lawsuit filed against Kalshi, an online prediction market. But as Brown pushes forward, records show that companies with a direct financial stake in limiting online competition have stepped up their financial support for his office.

The Financial Footprint Behind the State Legal Push

According to reporting by The Salt Lake Tribune, the Las Vegas Sands Corporation contributed $50,000 to Brown’s campaign in April. That donation arrived after his legal battle with online betting giant Kalshi began. The casino giant, which is controlled by the family of the late Sheldon Adelson, has spent over a decade lobbying heavily against online betting. Although the corporation maintains its headquarters in Las Vegas, it has sold most of its assets in the U.S. and primarily operates casinos in Macao and Singapore.

I just welcomed 95 of Utah's sharpest high schoolers to my Student Advisory Council. For a year, they'll sit down with me, lawmakers, and prosecutors to work through the issues that hit closest to home for them, from online safety to youth crime. I'm excited to work with them. pic.twitter.com/iqm8NtofH1

— https://x.com/AGDerekBrown/status/2102536700610122215

Beyond the casino giant, competitors in the digital prediction and gaming space have also contributed. Four donations totaling $20,000 have flowed into Brown’s campaign chest since he took office in 2025. DraftKings and PrizePicks each contributed $5,000 during the first half of 2025. In January, Stacie Stern, the senior vice president of government affairs and partnerships for Underdog, donated $10,000. None of those specific companies have faced legal action from Utah authorities thus far.

Sweepstakes casino operators have also entered the donor ledger. ARB Gaming LLC provided $5,000 in January, and VGW LuckyLand Inc. contributed another $5,000 in September. Under Utah law, all forms of gambling are strictly prohibited, including fringe formats like sweepstakes platforms that utilize virtual currencies to distribute cash prizes. State statute even permits private residents to sue facilitating companies for double the amount of money they lost.

The Federal Clash and State Response

When asked about the selective nature of the state’s enforcement, Brown defended the narrower initial scope during a press conference announcing the lawsuit.

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“At this point, we’re focusing on Kalshi,” Brown said. “But for other companies that are operating here in Utah, I would ask two things: Number one, read this complaint, and number two, we’re simply asking you to follow the law, follow Utah law, and gambling has been illegal in Utah since statehood.”

The conflict has already escalated beyond state boundaries. The federal government has sued Utah in an effort to halt the Kalshi lawsuit. Federal attorneys are seeking an injunction to block the state from investigating “U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission-regulated entities and their affiliates and partners” for violating state laws. Undeterred by the federal pushback, Utah officials answered by filing criminal charges against Kalshi on Wednesday.

Representatives for DraftKings, PrizePicks, and Underdog did not return inquiries regarding the purpose of their contributions. Meanwhile, the Las Vegas Sands Corporation did not return requests for comment regarding its $50,000 donation.

Defending the integrity of the office, Brown’s campaign advisor Matt Lusty issued a statement emphasizing that contributions do not sway policy. “The Attorney General receives many donations to his campaign each year,” Lusty wrote. “These donations have no influence on his decision-making. He remains focused on going after the companies and individuals that harm Utahns.”

A Public Nuisance Declaration and Unanswered Questions

Earlier this month, Brown formally declared gambling a public nuisance, asserting that it leaves a trail of harm that extends far beyond the person placing the bet. State officials maintain that they will not wait for more families to collapse under gambling’s weight before acting.

Utah AG Derek Brown Fights Back Against Federal Overreach on Public Lands

Despite the broad scope of the public nuisance declaration, significant questions remain. Brown’s office did not respond to inquiries from The Salt Lake Tribune regarding whether it is planning enforcement actions against sweepstakes casinos.