"In the past, an individual's contributions to PACs or parties was effectively limited to $10,000 because of the $10,000 aggregate limit in contributions in any one year," said Reid Magney, spokesman for the state Government Accountability Board.

But a federal court ruling earlier this year struck down the aggregate limits for individual contributions. In response, the GAB in May said it would no longer enforce limits on how much individuals can give to parties and political action committees. A GAB "Contribution Limits" guide (PDF) states that these contributions are “unlimited."

Magney said the law would allow a party or political action committee to "spend the money any way it sees fit," although "the donor cannot designate who the money must go to." The party can use the funds from Adelson to benefit a single candidate like Republican Gov. Scott Walker, to whom individual contribution limits still apply.