A pair of bills that aimed to tackle the rise of sweepstakes casinos by banning dual-currency gambling will no longer be considered by Florida lawmakers. The bills are off the table despite state lawmakers extending the legislative session from the original end date of May 2nd to June 6th.
Former Philadelphia Eagle, Sen. Corey Simon had proposed Senate Bill 1404 to tackle the rise of unregulated gambling. The bill included stricter penalties for operators offering illegal gaming. Simon commented that, “Without more substantial penalties, illegal gambling will continue to spread, siphoning money from Florida.”
The text of the bill looked to cover sweepstakes casinos in its definition of what constitutes internet gambling. The bill read, ‘Internet gambling’ means to play or engage in any game in which money or other thing of value is awarded based on chance, regardless of any application of skill, that is available on the Internet and accessible on a mobile device, computer terminal, or other similar access device and simulates casino-style gaming, including, but not limited to, slot machines, video poker, and table games.”
This would mean that sites that offer users the chance to play casino games using virtual currencies would violate the law. The bill was passed by two Senate committees, but was not on the list of bills to be considered during the extended session.
Another bill, House Bill 1467 proposed similar restrictions on online gaming, but it is also not being considered in the extended session.
SPGA celebrates victory
The Social and Promotional Games Association (SPGA) celebrated the bills’ failures in Florida after similar bills died in Arkansas, Maryland, and Mississippi.
“The defeat of these bills continues a clear national trend,” said a spokesperson for the SPGA. “In the past few weeks, similar bills have been rejected in Arkansas, Maryland, and Mississippi. Lawmakers across the country are rejecting these anti-innovation, anti-business efforts that attempt to dictate what games American adults can play on their phones.”
They added, “This is a huge win, not just for the industry, but for every Floridian who values economic freedom and digital innovation. Once again, a state has seen through the scare tactics and rejected legislation that would have harmed consumers, businesses, and Florida’s economy.”
Sweepstakes casinos fill void in Florida
Florida sports betting and gaming are legal only through the Seminole Tribe, and these bills aimed to protect the compact between the state and the tribe. Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a deal with the tribe in 2021 to allow online sports betting to operate through HardRockBet. However, the agreement has faced legal challenges with a lawsuit filed last month claiming that voter agreement is needed to allow online betting.
As yet, Florida online casinos have not been legalized. With no legal options, residents turn to sweepstakes and social casinos in big numbers. A report published last month estimated that unregulated online casinos generated $2.4 billion in the Sunshine State in 2024. Only California, Texas, and New York had higher figures.
Stake, the leading sweepstakes casino, generated $4.7 billion in revenue last year and will welcome the failure of the two bills. For now, Floridans can continue using the site and other social casinos that operate in a legal gray area.
Adam is an experienced writer with years of experience in the gambling industry. He has worked as a content writer and editor for five years on sites such as Oddschecker, CoinTelegraph and Gambling Industry News, bringing excellent knowledge of the world of sports betting and online gambling.
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