Florida lawmakers are looking to tighten up the state’s laws to prevent non-Seminole Tribe groups from offering any form of online gambling. House Bill 591 would make it a third-degree felony for any person operating or promoting such a platform.
The legislation, introduced by Representative Berny Jacques, also includes a ban on anyone using insider information to place sports bets, limits on gambling ads, and an increase in the criminal penalties for certain offenses.
There is no mention in the 86 pages about sweepstakes gambling. However, the Social Gaming Leadership Alliance (SGLA) has concerns that its operations fall under the category of unlawful internet gambling, despite its members believing they run “lawful permitted sweepstakes” in Florida. The SGLA aims to collaborate with regulators to reach a consensus on the matter.
Seminole Tribe has a 30-year gaming compact with the state
The Seminole Tribe has a 30-year gaming compact with the state that gives it exclusive rights over sports betting. It pushed the bounds of this compact when it launched slots-style games in October despite iGaming not being part of the agreement. As the games use the results of historic NASCAR races to determine the outcome of the spins, they technically fall under an allowable activity, as per the compact.
