Florida legislators have intensified their campaign against unregulated gambling with the introduction of HB 591, a sweeping enforcement package that follows closely on the heels of HB 189. Together, the two bills mark the state’s most aggressive attempt in years to reshape its gambling landscape, targeting everything from online wagering to slot machine trafficking.
HB189
HB 189, filed earlier this fall, initially focused on illegal gaming parlors but was amended to include a broad ban on domestic internet gambling. The measure criminalizes participation in online casino-style games and sports wagering outside of the Seminole Tribe’s compact, while carving out exemptions for daily fantasy sports.
HB 591
HB 591, introduced just weeks later, expands the crackdown into a comprehensive overhaul of Florida’s gambling laws. At 86 pages, the bill raises penalties across the board and introduces new categories of criminal offenses. The bill imposes felony charges for slot-machine trafficking, defining the offense as knowingly transporting or selling 15 or more machines, and punishes violators with fines up to $500,000.
It also criminalizes gambling-related advertising, reclassifies traditional gambling offenses as more severe felonies, and penalizes anyone who transports groups to illegal gambling venues—especially when those groups include minors or seniors.
The legislation further strengthens the authority of the Florida Gaming Control Commission (FGCC) by preempting local governments from passing their own gambling rules.
Online Casinos Serving Florida Players
While Florida lawmakers push forward with HB 189 and HB 591 to restrict unregulated gambling, residents continue to access casino-style games with offshore platforms. Because Florida has not legalized real-money online casinos, players often turn to overseas operators licensed in jurisdictions such as Curaçao or Malta. These sites offer a wide range of slots, table games, and live dealer experiences, along with generous welcome bonuses and crypto-friendly payment options.
Offshore Casinos to Persist Despite Crackdown
Even with the passage of HB 189 and HB 591, Florida online casinos are expected to remain accessible to Florida residents. Because these platforms operate outside U.S. jurisdiction, typically under licenses from international regulators in places like Curaçao or Malta, state authorities have limited ability to block or prosecute them directly.
While the new laws criminalize advertising and participation, enforcement against individual players is difficult, and offshore operators can continue serving Floridians through digital channels.
This dynamic means that, despite the legislative crackdown, offshore casinos will persist as the primary online gambling option in Florida, highlighting the tension between prohibition efforts and the realities of global internet-based gaming.