- A second Florida Senate committee has granted a favorable report to a bill that includes a prohibition on sweepstakes gaming
- Sen. Corey Simon‘s (R-3) bill, SB 1404, now moves to the Senate fiscal policy committee
- The legislation also seeks increased penalties for offering, and participating in, illegal gambling in the state
A bill to increase penalties for illegal Florida sports betting, illegal gambling, and a prohibition on sweepstakes gaming has moved forward in Senate with yet another favorable report.
The Florida Senate Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government today voted to give Sen. Corey Simon‘s (R-3) bill, SB 1404, a favorable report. His legislation seeks to increase penalties for illegal Florida sports betting and gambling, while also including a prohibition on sweepstakes gaming in the state.
“Without more substantial penalties, illegal gambling will continue to spread, siphoning money from Florida,” Simon said at the hearing.
Prohibiting Illegal Online Gambling and Sports Betting
Simon’s legislation has successfully moved through two Senate committees and will next be heard by members of the fiscal policy committee.
Simon’s bill prohibits “internet gambling” and “internet sports betting” outside of the Seminole Tribe’s gaming compact with Florida, which effectively bans sweepstake gaming as well.
Internet gambling in the bill is defined as the following:
“‘Internet gambling’ means to play or engage in any game in which money or other thing of value is awarded based on chance, regardless of any application of skill, that is available on the Internet and accessible on a mobile device, computer terminal, or other similar access device and simulates casino-style gaming, including, but not limited to, slot machines, video poker, and table games.
Online sports betting in the bill is defined in a similar manner, prohibiting bets of real money or “other things of value upon the result of any trial or contest of skill, speed, power or endurance of human or beast” that is available online.
If Simon’s bill is approved, it will make both a third-degree felony. It will not affect the Seminole Tribe’s ability to offer Florida sports betting or iGaming, however. The bill does not include daily fantasy sports language, as another bill dealing with DFS is being worked on in the legislature.
If signed into law, the bill will go into effect on Oct. 1, 2025.
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More Clarification Needed
While the bill did move forward, several members of the committee urged Simon to continue working towards clarifying exactly what is illegal in his bill.
Both Sen. Jason W. B. Pizzo (D-37) and Sen. Colleen Burton (R-12) voted in favor of the legislation, but noted work is still needed to make the language of the proposed legislation more clear. Were this the bill’s final committee stop, Burton revealed she would have voted against the document.
Additionally, a number of Veterans of Foreign Wars and American Legion representatives spoke up against the bill. Both groups in the state house electronic gaming machines in their respective member halls, for charitable purposes only, and confusion still exists if these machines will be illegal under Simon’s bill.
“We’ll continue to push this forward. I, like you, are looking for a very black and white issue, and there seems to be far too many gray issues right now…if we can’t find a good landing spot, we won’t move the bill,” he said.
The Florida Senate recently took a significant step towards cracking down on illegal gambling activities in the state by advancing a bill that would prohibit sweepstakes establishments. The bill, known as SB 8, aims to close loopholes that have allowed these businesses to operate under the guise of offering legitimate sweepstakes promotions.
Sweepstakes establishments have long been a source of controversy in Florida, with critics arguing that they are essentially unregulated casinos that prey on vulnerable populations. These businesses typically offer customers the chance to win prizes by purchasing products or services, but in reality, the odds of winning are often slim and the primary purpose is to entice customers to spend money on gambling.
The Senate’s decision to advance the prohibition bill comes after years of debate and legal battles over the regulation of sweepstakes establishments. Proponents of the bill argue that these businesses have been able to skirt existing gambling laws and regulations, leading to a proliferation of illegal gambling activities in the state.
If passed, SB 8 would effectively shut down sweepstakes establishments in Florida and impose penalties on those who continue to operate them. The bill has received bipartisan support in the Senate, with lawmakers from both parties acknowledging the need to address the issue of illegal gambling in the state.
In addition to prohibiting sweepstakes establishments, SB 8 also includes provisions to crack down on other forms of illegal gambling, such as internet cafes and adult arcades. The bill would give law enforcement officials more tools to enforce existing gambling laws and protect consumers from fraudulent practices.
Overall, the advancement of the Florida Sweepstakes Prohibition Bill represents a significant victory for those who have been advocating for stricter regulations on gambling activities in the state. If passed into law, SB 8 would send a clear message that illegal gambling will not be tolerated in Florida and that steps will be taken to protect consumers from exploitation.