Potential Gambling Crackdown in Florida as Lawmakers Eye Harsher Penalties

Florida has seen an influx in bills filed relating to gambling, with the latest batch looking to clamp down on gambling advertising, insider betting, and adjust slot machine definitions.

Senator Johnathan Martin has submitted S1836, which primarily aims to enhance enforcement and penalties. One of the key provisions of the proposed bill is exempting the FGCC from certain state contracting provisions and authorizing it to acquire land, property, interests, buildings, or other property to store seized slot machines and contraband.

Under Martin’s proposal, falsely impersonating any personnel or representative of the Florida Gaming Control Commission would become a criminal offense, and the penalty would escalate depending on the severity of the offense.

Martin’s Bill Targets Illegal Gambling With Harsher Penalties

A common theme throughout Martin’s bill is harsher penalties for breaches such as keeping a gambling house, renting property for gambling, permitting minors from placing bets, and illegal lotteries. There are also harsher rules relating to illicit gambling in Florida. Florida’s Seminoles have a monopoly on online sports betting, and thus, any crypto betting would face harsher penalties.

In addition, proximity to places of worship or education would be worthy of more severe punishment.

The bill’s most notable aspect is the change in the definition of slot machines, which would broaden the definition significantly. A slot machine or device would now include “any machine, device, or network of devices integrated with a video monitor. It is activated directly or indirectly through payment, which can be in the form of money, coins, account numbers, codes or other objects or information.”

It also clarifies that a device would be considered a slot if the user may receive money, credits, or anything of value by either “skill or chance” or if the “outcome is unpredictable.” It also includes devices that allow users to “secure additional chances or rights to play, even if the device offers free play or other merchandise or entertainment value.”

The Senator’s proposals would criminalize playing any lottery not run by the Florida Lottery. Anyone with a ‘prohibited’ lottery ticket could be found guilty of a third-degree felony instead of a misdemeanor, and operating a lottery would become a second-degree felony.

Will Snyder’s Bill Change Daily Fantasy Sports in Florida?

House Representative John Snyder’s H1467 follows very similar themes to Martin’s but includes sections around daily fantasy sports and insider betting.

Snyder would like to regulate daily fantasy products, but the definition as “a contest in which a participant pays an entry fee and manages a fantasy or simulation sports team composed of athletes from a professional sports organization with the opportunity to win a cash prize,” does not clarify a stance on the controversial ‘Pick’Em’ style products where players bet against the house. It would also classify operating DFS as unlicensed and as a third-degree felony.

H1467 would also make bribery of athletes, officials, or people with knowledge or connection to a team or game “with intent to influence them to lose a game or negatively affect their own performance” a third-degree felony.

It would also make wagering on a professional or amateur contest with pre-existing knowledge of the result a felony.

It is unlikely that any of the amendments to Florida’s betting regulations will be enacted, given the control that the Seminole Tribe exerts over the Sunshine State’s landscape.