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THE BILL ITSELF

CS/SB 530

State Lotteries

VERSION S 530 c1 · BACK TO THE SUMMARY · OFFICIAL RECORD

underlined language is being added; struck language is being deleted. Line numbers are the Legislature's own — the same ones amendments cite.

Florida Senate - 2026 CS for SB 530 By the Committee on Regulated Industries; and Senators Simon and Pizzo 580-02243-26 2026530c1
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to state lotteries; amending s.
3 24.103, F.S.; defining the term “ball machine”;
4 revising the definitions of the terms “major
5 procurement” and “retailer”; amending s. 24.105, F.S.;
6 revising the powers and duties of the Department of
7 the Lottery; amending s. 24.108, F.S.; revising the
8 schedule for the department to have a certain report
9 produced and submitted to the Governor and the
10 Legislature; amending s. 24.111, F.S.; revising the
11 information required to be provided to the department
12 by persons who submit a bid, a proposal, or an offer
13 to negotiate a contract for major procurement;
14 amending s. 24.112, F.S.; revising the bond amount a
15 retailer may be required to post for the period within
16 which the retailer is required to remit lottery funds
17 to the department; revising certain requirements
18 relating to lottery vending machines; amending s.
19 24.116, F.S.; authorizing the Division of Security’s
20 sworn law enforcement officers to purchase and present
21 lottery tickets to a lottery retailer to claim a prize
22 under certain circumstances; amending s. 24.118, F.S.;
23 revising certain prohibitions and penalties relating
24 to presenting a counterfeit or altered state lottery
25 ticket; prohibiting certain false claims relating to
26 state lottery tickets; prohibiting a lottery retailer
27 or an employee thereof from using such position to
28 knowingly facilitate, participate in, or otherwise
29 assist in the theft of a lottery ticket from a retail
30 establishment, patron, or customer; providing criminal
31 penalties; defining the terms “patron” and “customer”;
32 providing an effective date.
34 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
36 Section 1. Present subsections (1) through (6) of section
37 24.103, Florida Statutes, are redesignated as subsections (2)
38 through (7), respectively, a new subsection (1) is added to that
39 section, and present subsections (2) and (4) of that section are
40 amended, to read:
41 24.103 Definitions.—As used in this act:
42 (1) “Ball machine” means a device that mechanically mixes a
43 set of numbered balls and then randomly draws from that mix to
44 determine the winning numbers for a specific game.
45 (3) (2) “Major procurement” means a procurement for a
46 contract for the printing of tickets for use in any lottery
47 game, consultation services for the startup of the lottery, any
48 goods or services involving the official recording for lottery
49 game play purposes of a player’s selections in any lottery game
50 involving player selections, any goods or services involving the
51 receiving of a player’s selection directly from a player in any
52 lottery game involving player selections, any goods or services
53 involving the drawing, determination, or generation of winners
54 in any lottery game, the security report services provided for
55 in this act, or any goods and services relating to marketing and
56 promotion which exceed a value of $25,000.
57 (5) (4) “Retailer” means the department or a person who
58 sells lottery tickets on behalf of the department pursuant to a
59 contract.
60 Section 2. Section. 2. Paragraphs (a) and (d) of
61 subsection (9) and subsection (17) of section 24.105, Florida
62 Statutes, are amended to read:
63 24.105 Powers and duties of department.—The department
64 shall:
65 (9) Adopt rules governing the establishment and operation
66 of the state lottery, including:
67 (a) The type of lottery games to be conducted, except that:
68 1. The No name of an elected official may not shall appear
69 on the ticket or play slip of any lottery game or on any prize
70 or on any instrument used for the payment of prizes, unless such
71 prize is in the form of a state warrant.
72 2. No Coins or currency may not shall be dispensed from any
73 electronic computer terminal or device used in any lottery game.
74 3. Other than as specifically provided in s. 24.112, a no
75 terminal or device may not be used for any lottery game which
76 may be operated solely by the player without the assistance of
77 the retailer.
78 (d) The method of selecting winning tickets. However, if a
79 lottery game involves the use of a ball machine to conduct a
80 drawing, the drawing must shall be public and witnessed by an
81 accountant employed by an independent certified public
82 accounting firm. The department shall inspect the equipment used
83 in the drawing shall be inspected before and after the drawing.
84 (17) Have the authority to Enter into agreements with other
85 states for the operation and promotion of a multistate lottery
86 if such agreements are in the best interest of the state
87 lottery. The authority conferred by this subsection is not
88 effective until 1 year after the first day of lottery ticket
89 sales.
90 Section 3. Subsections (6) and (7) of section 24.108,
91 Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
92 24.108 Division of Security; duties; security report.—
93 (6) The division shall monitor ticket validation and
94 lottery drawings where ball machines are used to select winning
95 numbers .
96 (7)(a) By July 1, 2027, and once every 2 years thereafter
97 After the first full year of sales of tickets to the public, or
98 sooner if the secretary deems necessary , the department shall
99 engage an independent firm experienced in security procedures,
100 including, but not limited to, computer security and systems
101 security, to conduct a comprehensive study and evaluation of all
102 aspects of security in the operation of the department.
103 (b) The portion of the security report containing the
104 overall evaluation of the department in terms of each aspect of
105 security must shall be presented to the Governor, the President
106 of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
107 The portion of the security report containing specific
108 recommendations is shall be confidential and must shall be
109 presented only to the secretary, the Governor, and the Auditor
110 General; however, upon certification that such information is
111 necessary for the purpose of effecting legislative changes, such
112 information must shall be disclosed to the President of the
113 Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, who may
114 disclose such information to members of the Legislature and
115 legislative staff as necessary to effect such purpose. However,
116 any person who receives a copy of such information or other
117 information which is confidential pursuant to this act or rule
118 of the department shall maintain its confidentiality. The
119 confidential portion of the report is exempt from the provisions
120 of s. 119.07(1) and s. 24(a), Art. I of the State Constitution.
121 (c) Thereafter, similar studies of security shall be
122 conducted as the department deems appropriate but at least once
123 every 2 years.
124 Section 4. Subsection (2) of section 24.111, Florida
125 Statutes, is amended to read:
126 24.111 Vendors; disclosure and contract requirements.—
127 (2) The department shall investigate the financial
128 responsibility, security, and integrity of each vendor with
129 which it intends to negotiate a contract for major procurement.
130 Such investigation may include an investigation of the financial
131 responsibility, security, and integrity of any or all persons
132 whose names and addresses are required to be disclosed pursuant
133 to paragraph (a). Any person who submits a bid, a proposal, or
134 an offer as part of a major procurement must, at the time of
135 submitting such bid, proposal, or offer, provide the following:
136 (a) A disclosure of the vendor’s name and address and, as
137 applicable, the name and address and any additional disclosures
138 necessary for an investigation of the financial responsibility,
139 security, and integrity of the following:
140 1. If the vendor is a corporation, the officers, directors,
141 and each stockholder in such corporation; except that, in the
142 case of owners of equity securities of a publicly traded
143 corporation, only the names and addresses of those known to the
144 corporation to own beneficially 5 percent or more of such
145 securities need be disclosed.
146 2. If the vendor is a trust, the trustee and all persons
147 entitled to receive income or benefit from the trust.
148 3. If the vendor is an association, the members, officers,
149 and directors.
150 4. If the vendor is a partnership or joint venture, all of
151 the general partners, limited partners, or joint venturers.
153 If the vendor subcontracts any substantial portion of the work
154 to be performed to a subcontractor, the vendor must shall
155 disclose all of the information required by this paragraph for
156 the subcontractor as if the subcontractor were itself a vendor.
157 (b) A disclosure of all the states and jurisdictions in
158 which the vendor does business and of the nature of that
159 business for each such state or jurisdiction.
160 (c) A disclosure of all the states and jurisdictions in
161 which the vendor has contracts to supply gaming goods or
162 services, including, but not limited to, lottery goods and
163 services, and of the nature of the goods or services involved
164 for each such state or jurisdiction.
165 (d) A disclosure of all the states and jurisdictions in
166 which the vendor has applied for, has sought renewal of, has
167 received, has been denied, has pending, or has had revoked a
168 gaming license or contract of any kind and of the disposition of
169 such in each such state or jurisdiction. If any gaming license
170 or contract has been revoked or has not been renewed or any
171 gaming license or contract application has been either denied or
172 is pending and has remained pending for more than 6 months, all
173 of the facts and circumstances underlying this failure to
174 receive such a license must be disclosed.
175 (e) A disclosure of the details of any conviction or
176 judgment of a state or federal court of the vendor of any felony
177 or any other criminal offense other than a traffic violation.
178 (f) A disclosure of the details of any bankruptcy,
179 insolvency, reorganization, or any pending litigation of the
180 vendor.
181 (g) Such additional disclosures and information as the
182 department may determine to be appropriate for the procurement
183 involved.
184 (h) The department shall lease all vending machines that
185 dispense online lottery tickets, instant lottery tickets, or
186 both online and instant lottery tickets.
187 (i) The department will require a performance bond for the
188 duration of the contract.
190 The department may shall not contract with any vendor who fails
191 to make the disclosures required by this subsection, and any
192 contract with a vendor who has failed to make the required
193 disclosures is shall be unenforceable. Any contract with any
194 vendor who does not comply with such requirements for
195 periodically updating such disclosures during the tenure of such
196 contract as may be specified in such contract may be terminated
197 by the department. This subsection must shall be construed
198 broadly and liberally to achieve the ends of full disclosure of
199 all information necessary to allow for a full and complete
200 evaluation by the department of the competence, integrity,
201 background, and character of vendors for major procurements.
202 Section 5. Subsection (9) and paragraph (a) of subsection
203 (15) of section 24.112, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
204 24.112 Retailers of lottery tickets; authorization of
205 vending machines to dispense lottery tickets.—
206 (9)(a) The department may require every retailer to post an
207 appropriate bond as determined by the department, using an
208 insurance company acceptable to the department, in an amount not
209 to exceed three times twice the average lottery ticket sales of
210 the retailer for the period within which the retailer is
211 required to remit lottery funds to the department. For the first
212 90 days of sales of a new retailer, the amount of the bond may
213 not exceed three times twice the average estimated lottery
214 ticket sales for the period within which the retailer is
215 required to remit lottery funds to the department. This
216 paragraph does shall not apply to lottery tickets which are
217 prepaid by the retailer.
218 (b) In lieu of such bond, the department may do any of the
219 following:
220 1. Purchase blanket bonds covering all or selected
221 retailers .
222 2. or may Allow a retailer to deposit and maintain with the
223 Chief Financial Officer securities that are interest bearing or
224 accruing and that, with the exception of those specified in sub
225 subparagraphs a. and b. subparagraphs 1. and 2. , are rated in
226 one of the four highest classifications by an established
227 nationally recognized investment rating service. Securities
228 eligible under this subparagraph are paragraph shall be limited
229 to:
230 a. 1. Certificates of deposit issued by solvent banks or
231 savings associations organized and existing under the laws of
232 this state or under the laws of the United States and having
233 their principal place of business in this state.
234 b. 2. United States bonds, notes, and bills for which the
235 full faith and credit of the government of the United States is
236 pledged for the payment of principal and interest.
237 c. 3. General obligation bonds and notes of any political
238 subdivision of the state.
239 d. 4. Corporate bonds of any corporation that is not an
240 affiliate or subsidiary of the depositor.
241 3. Allow a retailer to remit funds to the department for
242 deposit in an interest-bearing bank account held by the
243 department.
245 Such securities must shall be held in trust and shall have at
246 all times a market value at least equal to an amount required by
247 the department.
248 (15) A vending machine may be used to dispense online
249 lottery tickets, instant lottery tickets, or both online and
250 instant lottery tickets.
251 (a) The vending machine must:
252 1. Dispense a lottery ticket following receipt of payment
253 after a purchaser inserts a coin or currency in the machine ; .
254 2. Be capable of being electronically deactivated for a
255 period of 5 minutes or more ; and .
256 3. Be designed to prevent its use for any purpose other
257 than dispensing a lottery ticket.
258 Section 6. Subsection (2) of section 24.116, Florida
259 Statutes, is amended to read:
260 24.116 Unlawful purchase of lottery tickets; penalty.—
261 (2) An No officer or employee of the department or any
262 relative living in the same household with such officer or
263 employee may not purchase a lottery ticket. Sworn law
264 enforcement officers employed by the Division of Security may
265 purchase lottery tickets and present lottery tickets to a
266 lottery retailer to claim a prize when such purchase or
267 presentation of lottery tickets is necessary for the performance
268 of the officers’ official duties, including, but not limited to,
269 compliance operations and investigations.
270 Section 7. Subsection (3) of section 24.118, Florida
271 Statutes, is amended, and subsections (5) and (6) are added to
272 that section, to read:
273 24.118 Other prohibited acts; penalties.—
274 (3) COUNTERFEIT OR ALTERED TICKETS.— A Any person who:
275 (a) Knowingly presents a counterfeit or altered state
276 lottery ticket;
277 (b) Knowingly transfers a counterfeit or altered state
278 lottery ticket to another to present for payment; or
279 (c) With intent to defraud, falsely makes, alters, forges,
280 passes, or counterfeits a state lottery ticket ; or
281 (d) Files with the department a claim for payment based
282 upon facts alleged by the claimant which facts are untrue and
283 known by the claimant to be untrue when the claim is made;
285 commits is guilty of a felony of the third degree, punishable as
286 provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.
287 (5) FALSE CLAIM.—A person may not, when presenting or
288 causing to be presented any claim for payment or approval to an
289 officer or employee of the department or to a lottery retailer,
290 knowingly and willfully:
291 (a) Falsify or conceal a material fact;
292 (b) Make a false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement or
293 representation relating to a material fact; or
294 (c) Make or use any false document, knowing the document
295 contains a false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement or entry
296 relating to a material fact.
298 A person who violates this subsection commits a felony of the
299 third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083,
300 or s. 775.084.
301 (6) THEFT OF LOTTERY TICKET BY RETAILER.—
302 (a) A lottery retailer or an employee thereof may not use
303 his or her position to knowingly facilitate, participate in, or
304 otherwise assist in the theft of any lottery ticket from the
305 retail establishment or from a patron or customer of the retail
306 establishment.
307 (b) A person who violates paragraph (a) commits a felony of
308 the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s.
309 775.083, or s. 775.084.
310 (c) As used in this subsection, the terms “patron” and
311 “customer” include a sworn law enforcement officer of the
312 Division of Security presenting a lottery ticket to a lottery
313 retailer to claim a prize during the performance of the law
314 enforcement officer’s official duties.
315 Section 8. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.