The Florida legislative session is over, and multiple gambling bills have died in committee before seeing the Senate floor.
HB1467 (Rep. John Snyder), S1404 (Sen. Corey Simon), S1836 (Sen. Johnathan Martin), H1017 (Rep. Vicki Lopez), and H953 (Rep. Webster Barnaby) were all left in committee without enough support to be discussed in 2025.
Florida lawmakers did vote for a Concurrent Resolution to reconvene on May 12. However, gambling laws will not be discussed, as the state’s budget has yet to be resolved.
The gambling laws in Florida cover a wide range of topics. With the addition of online tribal casinos and sportsbooks, many lawmakers are looking to curb gambling expansion in the state. Several of the gambling bills mentioned above proposed harsher penalties and punishments for illegal gambling.
Snyder’s Push For DFS
HB 1467 was passed through the House and referred to the Senate Rules Committee, but never got a hearing in the final week of the session. If passed, it would increase punishments for operating and advertising an illegal gambling site and could result in a felony conviction. It would also legalize daily fantasy sports.
Representative Snyder stated during a recent meeting that his proposed legislation aims to codify existing language in the state statute without expanding legal gambling.
Last month, Snyder said on record, “What this really does is focus on bad actors and illicit gambling operations of any form or fashion. We’re trying to curtail unregulated gambling that can happen in the shadows.”
Online Casino Laws
The state of Florida has a gambling compact with the casino-owning tribes. The Seminole Tribe of Florida is the only tribe authorized to offer Class III gaming, which includes slot machines and casino table games. It also owns most of the state’s casinos.
In 2024, Hard Rock Bet launched an online casino geofenced for Florida players. While all 18+ players can access Florida online casinos, Hard Rock Bet is only allowed while physically located in the state.
Tribal casinos, card rooms, pari-mutual wagering, and slot rooms are all regulated by the Florida Gaming Control Commission. Tribal casinos must also follow federal regulations. The compact between the state and the Seminole Tribe of Florida was updated in 2021 to include craps, roulette, and sports betting. The compact is a 30-year agreement ending on July 31, 2051.