- A new bill introduced in the Florida House of Representatives seeks to ban all non-Seminole Tribe forms of gaming
- The bill focuses on banning online sports betting and sweepstakes gaming in Florida
- Legislation also bans betting on games with inside information
Florida legislators are taking another crack at prohibiting sweepstakes gaming in the Sunshine State.
Rep. Berny Jacques (R-59) introduced HB 591, a bill to prohibit all non-Seminole Tribe forms of gaming in the state, including online sports betting, iGaming, and slot machine parlors. The bill also prohibits any betting on events with insider information and sets penalties for doing so.
Several similar bills were introduced this year, but none were approved. Jacques’ bill will be considered in the state’s 2026 legislative session.
Carve Out for Seminoles
Jacques’ bill specifically notes that the proposed legislation does not apply for Florida tribes with approved gaming compacts. The Seminole Tribe’s casino offerings, online sports betting, and any future approved iGaming efforts would not be affected.
If approved, the bill would likely prohibit all dual-currency sweepstakes games in Florida. Jeff Duncan, executive director of the Social Gaming Leadership Alliance, said the organization “strongly disagrees” with the categorization of sweepstakes games having anything to do with illegal, unregulated offshore gaming.
“We strongly disagree with the categorization that Social Plus games that utilize sweepstakes promotions have anything in common with illegal offshore gambling operations. HB 591 laudably seeks to stop illegal gambling from taking place in the state of Florida but fails to account for how lawful promotional sweepstakes operate in Florida. SGLA partner companies operate fully within Florida’s sweepstakes, consumer protection, banking and financial transactions laws, and are committed to further regulations to ensure that Social Plus games remain a safe outlet for the millions of Florida adults age 21 and over seeking casual entertainment,” he said.
This is not the first time Florida sweepstakes games have been threatened by lawmakers. Earlier this year, Sen. Corey Simon (R-3) introduced SB 1404, a piece of legislation that included a prohibition on sweepstakes gaming in the state. It moved through two Senate committees before it died on the final day of the 2025 session.
Setting Punishments for Event Manipulation
Also included in the legislation is a prohibition on sports event manipulation and sports betting with insider knowledge. The legislation sets a penalty of a felony in the third degree if found to be engaging in such actions.
“A person who stakes, bets, or wagers any money or other thing of value upon the result of any professional or amateur game, contest, match, race, or sport with knowledge that the results of such professional or amateur game, contest, match, race, or sport are prearranged or predetermined as described in subsection (1) or subsection (2) commits a felony of the third degree,” according to the bill.
This includes anyone engaging in event manipulation, such as athletes or referees, or those who solicit such information for profit.
DFS Legislation Also On Tap
Florida lawmakers will also consider a bill in 2026 to legalize daily fantasy sports (DFS) contests in the Sunshine State. DFS operates in the “gray market” in Florida, as they are available in the state but are not considered legal or taxed.
Rep. Dana Trabulsy’s (R-81) bill, HB 189, is seeking to legalize daily fantasy sports contests. Florida lawmakers have explored the idea of regulating daily fantasy sports contests by bringing them out of the unregulated and untaxed gray market for the last several years.
If approved, Trabulsy’s bill will also set criminal penalties for engaging in match fixing and housing illegal slot machines.
Trabulsy’s bill was unanimously adopted without objection by a 13-0 vote in the House Industries and Professional Activities Subcommittee. The bill will have to be adopted by one more committee before potentially being discussed on the House floor.
The piece of legislation officially seeks to define daily fantasy sports contests 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. The term includes a simulation sports game.”
Robert is an expert on sports betting in the United States, specifically the legalization process and regulation surrounding the industry.
