PROVIDED SUMMARY
Gambling; Deleting language concerning factors to be considered in appointments to the Florida Gaming Control Commission; prohibiting betting on athletic contests with knowledge that the results are prearranged or predetermined; defining the terms “Internet gambling” and “Internet sports wagering”; prohibiting Internet gambling and Internet sports wagering and related offenses; prohibiting the transportation of a specified number of people, for the purpose of facilitating illegal gambling; prohibiting counties, municipalities, and other political subdivisions from enacting or enforcing any ordinance or rule regarding the regulation of gaming, gambling, lotteries, or any activities described in specified provisions, etc.
Full bill text →
Plain English Summary
AI-GENERATED
Bans online gambling and preempts local gambling regulation.
The bill makes playing, operating, or promoting online gambling and sports betting a criminal offense, with penalties starting at a second-degree misdemeanor.
It prohibits counties and municipalities from enacting or enforcing their own rules on gaming, gambling, or lotteries, removing local authority to regulate these activities.
It creates new felony penalties for transporting five or more people to facilitate illegal gambling and for moving more than 15 slot machines.
It criminalizes betting on sports events with knowledge that the results are prearranged or predetermined.
KEY PROVISIONS
§ 1
Preemption of local gambling regulation
majors. 849.49
AIProhibits local governments from creating or enforcing their own gambling rules.
“may not enact or enforce any ordinance or local rule relating to gaming, gambling, lotteries, or any activities described in s. 546.10 or this chapter”
bill text, line 539 →
§ 2
Internet gambling and sports wagering bans
majors. 849.08
AICriminalizes playing, operating, or promoting online gambling and sports betting.
“A person who plays or engages in Internet sports wagering commits: (a) For a first violation, a misdemeanor of the second degree”
bill text, line 279 →
§ 3
Slot machine trafficking penalties
majors. 849.155
AIImposes mandatory fines and first-degree felonies for moving large quantities of slot machines.
“knowingly sells, purchases, manufactures, transports, delivers, or brings into this state more than 15 slot machines or devices or any parts thereof commits a felony of the first”
bill text, line 448 →
§ 4
Removal of s. 849.23 from RICO predicate offenses
majors. 895.02(12)
AIRemoves s. 849.23 from the list of gambling offenses that can serve as predicate acts for RICO charges.
“Section 849.09, s. 849.14, s. 849.15, s. 849.23, or s. 849.25, relating to gambling.”
bill text, line 959 →
§ 5
Illegal gambling advertising ban
moderates. 849.48
AIProhibits publishing or creating advertisements to promote illegal gambling.
“a person may not knowingly and intentionally make, publish, disseminate, circulate, or place before the public, or cause, directly or indirectly, to be made, published, dissemin”
bill text, line 516 →
§ 6
Transporting persons for illegal gambling
moderates. 849.47
AICriminalizes transporting five or more people to facilitate illegal gambling.
“knowingly and willfully transports, or procures the transportation of, five or more other persons into or within this state when he or she knows or reasonably should know that such”
bill text, line 494 →
§ 7
Betting on fixed sports events
moderates. 838.12
AICriminalizes betting on sports events known to be prearranged or predetermined.
“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 suc”
bill text, line 172 →
§ 8
Gambling house penalties
moderates. 849.01
AIElevates the penalty for keeping a gambling house from a misdemeanor to a felony.
“procures, suffers or permits any person to play for money or other valuable thing at any game whatever, whether heretofore prohibited or not, commits a felony of the third degree”
bill text, line 225 →
TIMELINE
3/13/2026
Died in Regulated Industries
1/12/2026
Referred to Regulated Industries; Appropriations Committee on...
STATUTES IT CHANGES