No. CS/CS/CS/HB 189
Filed under Criminal Justice.
Gambling ; Revises provisions related to gambling including the Florida Gaming Control Commission, gaming machines, pari-mutuel permits & permitholders, betting on certain athletic contests, criminal penalties, Internet gambling, Internet sports wagering, manipulation of card games, fantasy sports contests, games of chance, slot machines, & illegal gambling; regulation of certain gaming activities.
Plain English Summary
AI-GENERATEDThe bill escalates criminal penalties for operating a gambling house and renting property for gambling, moving both from misdemeanors to felonies. It also creates a new felony for government employees who knowingly certify or conceal illegal gambling operations.
It tightens oversight of the Florida Gaming Control Commission by expanding conflict-of-interest rules for its staff and requiring prior approval for any transfer of ownership in a pari-mutuel permitholder, removing previous percentage thresholds that allowed smaller transfers without review.
The legislation adds new criminal penalties for Internet sports wagering and establishes a framework for licensing agencies to summarily suspend or revoke licenses for gambling-related convictions, with fines up to $75,000.
AIBroadens the scope of entities from which commissioners and employees are barred from accepting employment or financial interests, extending the ban to any entity conducting or facilitating activities regulated by the commission, including fantasy sports and betting.
AIRequires prior commission approval for any transfer of stock or equity in a pari-mutuel permitholder, eliminating the previous 10 percent and 5 percent thresholds that allowed smaller transfers without approval.
AIElevates the penalty for operating a gambling house from a second-degree misdemeanor to a third-degree felony.
AICreates a tiered penalty structure for employees of gambling houses, escalating from a first-degree misdemeanor to a second-degree felony for repeat offenses.
AICriminalizes government employees who knowingly certify, license, or conceal gambling house operations, with penalties escalating to a second-degree felony.
AIAllows licensing agencies to summarily suspend or revoke licenses for gambling violations and imposes fines up to $75,000 on licensees.
AIElevates the penalty for renting a place for gambling from a misdemeanor to a third-degree felony for first offenses and a second-degree felony for repeat offenses.
AICriminalizes Internet sports wagering as a second-degree misdemeanor for first offenses and a first-degree misdemeanor for repeat offenses.