GOP backer, casino mogul Adelson reportedly gave $10 M to Koch brothers' efforts

FILE: April 12, 2012: Sheldon Adelson, Las Vegas Sands CEO and financial backer for GOP candidates. (AP)

Casino mogul Sheldon Adelson has donated $10 million to the Koch brothers’ efforts to elect Republicans and oust President Obama and other Democrats -- forging perhaps the most powerful, well-financed political fundraising machine of 2012.

Adelson donated the money last weekend during a Koch brothers’ fundraising summit in suburban San Diego. The private deal was confirmed Friday, according to the Associated Press and other news agencies.

Adelson has already contributed $10 million to Restore Our Future, which is the super political action committee that backs GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney, and $5 million each to two organizations promoting House Republicans.

During the GOP presidential primary, Adelson, chief executive officer of the Las Vegas Sands, and family members gave $21 million to a super PAC promoting former House Speaker Newt Gingrich.

Charles and David Koch are billionaire oil executives and libertarians who founded the small-government, anti-tax group Americans for Prosperity.

Among the others who contributed at the summit was personal-investment tycoon Charles Schwab, who committed to a seven-figure donation. Also at the summit, the brothers announced a new candidate training academy, Grassroots Institute, according to POLITICO.

The Kochs reportedly also are behind a voter database called Themis, similar to the Democrats’ Catalist, and their network of groups is expected to spend roughly $400 million in this election cycle.