Former Philadelphia Eagle Sen. Corey Simon put forward the bill. Simon has been campaigning against the spread of online betting and commented,
“Illegal gambling in Florida is a growing crisis. Illegal gambling operations are spreading across Florida, exploiting weak penalties to operate with little fear of consequences,” Simon said. “Arcades with blacked-out windows are multiplying, run by criminal organizations that treat minor fines as cost of doing business. The Florida Gaming Commission has received thousands of complaints that this is just the tip of the iceberg.”
The bill will now proceed to the next Senate committee and aims to take effect in October this year.
What is in the bill?
Bill S1404 would make it a third-degree felony to run or promote online gambling and sports betting. Players would also be guilty of a second-degree misdemeanor offense.
As a former NFL player, Simon’s bill also includes strict penalties for any athletes who participate in match-fixing and anyone who attempts to profit from insider knowledge in sporting events.
One amendment to the bill that came this week added a clamp down on members of the Florida Gaming Control Commission (FGCC) taking up positions in the gambling industry. Nobody who has worked with the FGCC can work for a gambling company for two years after leaving. This comes on the back of FGCC executive director Louis Trombetta resigning and then joining FanDuel, an online sportsbook, as a director.
What are the current regulations?
Until the proposed bill is passed, the current laws in Florida do not explicitly prohibit online gambling through sportsbooks or casinos. The state has an agreement with the Seminole Tribe to allow gaming and gambling. The tribe has their own official gaming partner and online sportsbook, Hard Rock Bet. This is part of the larger Hard Rock International, Inc., which operates casinos, hotels and cafes worldwide.
Governor, Ron deSanctis, agreed a 30-year gaming compact with the tribe in 2021. The deal faced legal challenges but was upheld in 2023. It remains to be seen if the bill would impact the agreement and threaten the established Hard Rock Bet.
In addition to SB1404, several other bills have also proposed tightening rules on online gambling. These include Sen. Jonathan Martin’s S1836, Rep. John Snyder’s H1467 and Rep. Webster Barnaby’s H953 bills. All of the bills include similar proposals to restrict the operation of online betting operators and punishing those who defy the rules.
Snyder’s H1467 also includes sections to regulate fantasy sports. In addition, it contains the policy of restricting former FGCC workers from switching to roles in the gambling industry.
The series of proposals could have a large impact on the crypto betting industry. At the same time, last month a bill was proposed to allow the state to invest state funds in crypto. Watch this space for updates on the series of bills and there journeys through the legislative process. For now, regulations in Florida do not explicitly prohibit or punish online gamblers.
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