SESSION WATCH
Died HOUSE · SESSION 2026

No. HB 609

Bingo Games
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SPONSOR
Owen
FILED BY
Michael Owen — District 70, Republican [search donations]
EFFECTIVE
7/1/2026
DIED IN
Industries & Professional Activities Subcommittee

Filed under Criminal Justice.

PROVIDED SUMMARY

Bingo Games; Revises requirements to manufacture, issue, & operate instant bingo tickets; requires that instant bingo ticket dispensers have certain features.

Full bill text →

Plain English Summary

AI-GENERATED
Mandates specific hardware features and outcome display rules for instant bingo ticket dispensers.

The bill requires new instant bingo ticket dispensers to accept only U.S. currency and track every ticket sold. It also mandates that these devices produce vouchers for prize verification and redemption.

Dispensers that read barcodes and display outcomes on video screens must generate reports showing gross sales, prizes paid, and net receipts for the operating organization. This creates a new financial reporting duty for bingo operators.

The law strictly prohibits dispensers from using spinning reels, random number generators, or player input features. These devices may not mimic slot machines or allow players to influence the predetermined game result.

Operators must ensure the physical ticket remains opaque and unidentifiable until opened or scanned. The bill also requires the accompanying information board, or flare, to be visible to the player before any tickets are sold.

KEY PROVISIONS
§ 1 Mandatory dispenser features majors. 849.0931(13)(g)

AIRequires all instant bingo ticket dispensers to include a bill acceptor that only takes U.S. currency and a system to track every ticket sold.

“An instant bingo ticket dispenser must have the following features: 1. A bill acceptor that accepts only United States currency and accounts for all currency inserted into the” bill text, line 101 →
§ 2 Prohibition on slot-machine-like features majors. 849.0931(13)(i)

AIForbids dispensers from using spinning reels, random number generators, or player input to influence the predetermined bingo outcome.

“An instant bingo ticket dispenser may not: 1. Display the outcome of an instant bingo ticket using spinning reels or other features that mimic a slot machine” bill text, line 116 →
§ 3 Voucher and reporting requirements moderates. 849.0931(13)(h)

AIRequires dispensers that read barcodes and display outcomes to produce prize verification vouchers and financial reports for the operating organization.

“Producing a voucher for prize verification and redemption or proof of purchase; and 2. Producing reports showing gross sales, prizes paid, and net receipts” bill text, line 111 →
§ 4 Expanded definition of instant bingo moderates. 849.0931(1)(f)

AIAllows instant bingo tickets to be sold directly by the operator or through a dispenser, rather than only by the operator.

“using tickets that are sold by the bingo operator or through an instant bingo ticket dispenser by which a player wins a prize” bill text, line 66 →
TIMELINE
3/13/2026
Died in Industries & Professional Activities Subcommittee
1/13/2026
1st Reading (Original Filed Version)
12/12/2025
Now in Industries & Professional Activities Subcommittee
12/12/2025
Referred to Commerce Committee
12/12/2025
Referred to State Administration Budget Subcommittee
12/12/2025
Referred to Industries & Professional Activities Subcommittee
12/2/2025
Filed
1 EARLIER →
STATUTES IT CHANGES
s. 849.0931
+309 / −15
s. 849.0931
+0 / −0
s. 849.0931
+0 / −0
s. 849.0931
+0 / −0
s. 849.0931
+0 / −0
s. 849.0931
+0 / −0