Florida Sweepstakes Gaming Prohibition Bills Now Dead

• Florida’s legislative session has been extended until June
• However, lawmakers are only extending session to complete the state budget
• This means both Florida sweepstakes prohibition bills are now dead

Despite lawmakers agreeing to extend the Florida legislative session, a pair of bills prohibiting dual-currency sweepstakes gaming will no longer be considered.

Sine die in the Sunshine State was originally scheduled for Friday, May 2. However, state lawmakers agreed to extend the session through Friday, June 6, to come to an agreement on the budget and any related budget legislation.

Sen. Corey Simon‘s (R-3) bill, SB 1404, a piece of legislation that includes a prohibition on sweepstakes gaming in the state, and its House counterpart HB 1467, will no longer be considered.

Legislation Now Dead

Simon’s bill successfully moved through two Senate committees, but did not find itself in a list of eligible bills to be considered during the session extension.

Simon’s bill prohibits “internet gambling” and “internet sports betting” outside of the Seminole Tribe’s gaming compact with Florida, which effectively bans sweepstake gaming as well.

Internet gambling in the bill is defined as the following:

“‘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.

Online sports betting in the bill is defined in a similar manner, prohibiting bets of real money or “other things of value upon the result of any trial or contest of skill, speed, power or endurance of human or beast” that is available online.

If it had been approved, the legislation would have made both a third-degree felony.

SPGA Celebrates Bill Failure

The Social and Promotional Games Association (SPGA) today celebrated the legislation failures. According to the SPGA, if the bills had been approved they would have “criminalized free-to-play digital entertainment.”

“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.”

The fate of the Florida legislation was the same this session as similar bills in Maryland, Arkansas, and Mississippi.

“This is a huge win, not just for the industry, but for every Floridian who values economic freedom and digital innovation,” said the SPGA spokesperson. “Once again, a state has seen through the scare tactics and rejected legislation that would have harmed consumers, businesses, and Florida’s economy.”