Florida legislators are considering a series of proposals aimed at limiting online gaming activities not covered by the "Seminole Tribe Agreement." Among them, the HB 591 bill proposed by Representative Bernie Yack has become a focal point. It attempts to impose new criminal penalties on gambling activities conducted via the internet and significantly expand state government regulatory powers.
Bill Core: Broad Definition and Severe Penalties
HB 591 defines "internet gambling" very broadly, covering almost all chance-based, simulated casino-style games, such as slot machines, video poker, and table games. According to the proposal, operators engaged in these activities could face third-degree felony charges, which is no joke, with a maximum sentence of 5 years in prison. The bill also aims to strip local governments of the power to enact their own gambling regulations, centralizing control at the state level, and imposing heavier penalties on repeat offenders, casino operators, and even individuals participating in illegal gambling. Interestingly, it even classifies "betting knowing the outcome of the game is manipulated" as a felony, with a broad scope of impact. Analysts believe that its broad wording could potentially sweep long-legally operated "scratch-off" promotional games within the state into its net. For more insights into state regulatory dynamics, keep an eye on updates from the PASA official website.
Scratch-off industry strongly opposes, claiming "collateral damage"
As soon as the bill was introduced, it immediately sparked strong backlash from the scratch-off game industry. Jeff Duncan, executive director of the Social Gaming Leadership Alliance (SGLA), representing "Social+" gaming companies, publicly expressed opposition, stating that social games utilizing lottery promotions have nothing in common with illegal offshore gambling operations. Duncan emphasized that his member companies (including VGW, Modo Casino, etc.) have always complied with Florida's consumer protection and financial transaction laws. The industry had previously lobbied, pointing out that regulating and taxing scratch-offs could bring up to $70 million in potential revenue to the state government, but now they find themselves potentially cornered by a single piece of legislation, naturally hard to accept.
Other proposals advancing simultaneously, tribal monopoly position consolidated
In addition to HB 591, legislators are also reviewing the HB 189 bill, which aims to regulate paid daily fantasy sports and impose criminal penalties for betting on known manipulated matches. The backdrop to this series of legislative actions is the Seminole Tribe's continuous expansion of its gaming supply through its "Hard Rock Bets" platform. The tribe has even recently introduced a new "slot machine-style" gameplay based on historical racing data, emphasizing that this fully complies with its exclusive sports betting agreement framework with the state government. It can be said that the state legislature is trying to further clarify and consolidate the Seminole Tribe's monopoly position in the state's gambling market through legal means.
HB 591 has been submitted to the relevant committee for review, in preparation for the legislative session beginning in March 2026. The debate over how broad the definition of "online gambling" should be and where the boundaries of the Seminole Tribe's exclusive rights lie, involving multiple interests, is expected to continue.
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This article is from "PASA-Global iGaming Leaders," a gambling industry news channel:https://t.me/pasa_news
Original in-depth gambling channel:https://t.me/gamblingdeep
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PASA official website: https://www.pasa.news
