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Sen. Corey Simon‘s (R-3) bill, SB 1404, which includes a ban on sweepstakes gaming in Florida in addition to increasing penalties for illegal gambling, has been approved and moved forward by the Senate Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government.
“Without more substantial penalties, illegal gambling will continue to spread, siphoning money from Florida,” Simon said at the hearing.
Simon’s bill prohibits “internet gambling” and “internet sports betting” outside of the Seminole Tribe’s gaming compact with Florida, which effectively bans sweepstakes gaming as well.
If Simon’s bill is approved, it will make both a third-degree felony while allowing the Seminoles to be the sole provider of online sports betting, and potential iGaming, in the Sunshine State.
Florida has also gone after Daily Fantasy Sports and offshore sportsbook operators in addition to the sweepstakes casinos.
The FGCC issued this statement in February following a series of cease and desist letters that went out:
“The gambling websites offered by your overseas bookmaking and casino operation offer or accept wagering on sports and horse races, including betting on point spreads, moneylines, and totals, as well as proposition bets and futures in the sportsbook and adding money to bet slips in the racebook."
Ross Marshman, Executive Director of the Florida Gaming Control Commission, emphasized the importance of regulation in the gaming industry and warned Floridians against using illegal online betting platforms.
“Gaming, both land-based and online, is strictly regulated in Florida. For example, when it comes to slot machine gaming, counting the eight legal, state-licensed slot machine businesses, and the six tribal gaming locations currently operated by the Seminole Tribe of Florida, there are only fourteen legal slot machine businesses in Florida,” Marshman stated.
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