Down in Florida, gaming regulators in the Sunshine State have some new added protections when it comes to protecting their identities and the jobs they are tasked with. Per a recent report, the Florida Gaming Control Commission (FGCC) members have been provided with personal confidentiality protections through a new bill signed into law by Gov. Ron DeSantis (R). Senate Bill 692 was introduced in January by state Sen. Travis Hutson (R-Flagler). The measure seeks to provide exemptions from public records for current and former FGCC commissioners and their spouses and children. The statute passed the Senate in February and the House in March, both by unanimous votes. DeSantis signed the act into law on June 21.
In this report, SBS will be going over what to look for from the latest gaming news coming from the state of Florida along with some more news and notes about the Sunshine State.
Noted in the report, state gaming regulators and their immediate families can now keep confidential their home addresses, personal telephone numbers, dates of birth, and other areas secret to the public. This also includes their spouse’s places of employment, schools attended, and other personal information. SB 692 brought the FGCC into Florida’s longstanding public records act that provides exemptions for most elected and government-appointed officials.
“The Legislature finds that the release of such personal identifying and location information might place the commission’s current or former commissioners and their family members in danger of physical and emotional harm…from disgruntled individuals whose businesses or professional practices have come under the scrutiny of the commission,” the state’s law making body wrote in its explanation of the bill sent to DeSantis that was attributed in the report.
The governor, however, had no comment on signing the bill per one source. The FGCC has recently cracked down on arcades where law enforcement says illegal gambling machines are operating. Moreover, the confidentiality statute could help protect commissioners from backlash from those business owners.
Per the same report, Florida’s gaming industry is amid considerable change after the U.S. Supreme Court last week denied an appeal challenging the state’s deal with the Seminole Tribe to allow the Hard Rock owner to operate online sports betting in the state. Lower federal courts ruled that the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Indian Affairs “didn’t err” in approving the Class III gaming compact that DeSantis and the tribe reached in 2021. The amended compact that provides the Seminoles with the exclusive rights to slot machines outside of Miami-Dade and Broward counties and most house-banked table games gives the tribe its first online gaming privileges. Opponents, including West Flagler Associates, which owns and operates the Bonita Springs Poker Room, argued the compact violated the federal Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA), which mandates that tribal gaming occurs only on tribal lands per the report.
Federal courts have also opined that since Hard Rock Bet online sportsbook computer servers remain on Seminole sovereign territory. Additionally, Florida lawmakers earlier passed legislation to redefine tribal gaming to permit the transmission of bets via the Internet; the compact remains in IGRA compliance.
Per the same report, the FGCC has regulatory jurisdiction over most gaming in the Sunshine State, except for the Florida Lottery. The commission governs parimutuel wagering, and slot casinos in Miami-Dade and Broward, and manages the Seminole Compact. The lone form of gambling, along with the lottery, that doesn’t fall under the FGCC’s scope are the two gaming properties run by the Miccosukee Tribe. The tribal nation hasn’t entered into a state gaming compact in favor of operating Class I and II gaming. This allows for electronic bingo-based slot-like devices at its Miccosukee Casino & Resort in Miami and gaming plaza along Alligator Alley.
Lawmakers created the commission in 2021 to regulate the gambling industry. DeSantis’ office announced last month that he had signed the bill, along with 13 others from this year’s legislative session. This update also comes at the same time as one Florida man is suspected of signing up people who were dead for a petition that supported casino gambling expansion in North Florida. Attorney General Ashley Moody, per one article, is prosecuting the case against the 34-year-old man. According to an article from June, the suspect (H.J. as noted in the article), isn’t the only Miami resident who is suspected of being involved in signing up dead people to the petition. Another resident, identified by the initials “A.J.” is also suspected of fraud related to the gambling petition.
Once you are all dialed in relation to the latest news coming from the world of Florida gaming, make sure to tap into the awesome array of information available to you at SBS. Of course, for even more information on the topic covered here, make sure to peruse the Florida sports betting rundown which goes over all the latest gaming notes and info coming from the state. Conversely, for those interested in maximizing their wagers, look no further than the best bonus betting sites guide. On this page, you can find a catalog of the latest and greatest welcome bonus offers to keep you rolling along. Finally, if you are someone who is always on the go, then the best betting apps breakdown is a great resource to learn more about mobile betting sites and how you can stay on top of the action.
About the Author
As a devout aficionado of sports, Chris Boline has carved a career within the athletic realm. A skilled scribe, he boasts a decade-long portfolio that encompasses coverage of the NBA G League, the Los Angeles Chargers, football and basketball across the country. Beyond his professional pursuits, Chris is deeply invested in his community and dedicates his leisure hours to serving on boards, collaborating with community organizations, and cherishing the company of loved ones. CURRENTLY Business Development and freelance sports writing RESIDES IN Reno, NV EDUCATION University of Nevada BS and MBA EXPERTISE -Sports writing proficiency in: NFL, NBA, UFC, boxing, golf, and some motor sports -Topical news -Promotional and marketing ideas/updates -Business development Summary Chris Boline serves in a business development sales capacity as his day job. He has previously held sales/marketing positions with The Applied Companies (TAC), KTVN 2 News and the NBA G League’s Reno Bighorns, affiliate of the Sacramento Kings. He is a Reno native and is a member of various community boards including the Nevada Sagebrush Alumni Chapter, NCET and the College of Business Alumni Association (COBAA). Chris graduated from the University of Nevada in 2015 with a bachelors in management and economics and also earned his MBA from Nevada in 2023. More about Chris: Past president of the College of Business Alumni Association (COBAA) 2022-23 Two-time honoree for University of Nevada Alumni Chapter of the Year (Nevada Sagebrush Alumni Chapter, 2017 & COBAA, 2021) 2021 NCET award for Professional Services Organization of the Year with TAC Northern Nevada Human Resources Association 2020 Best Places to Work-Northern Nevada, Second Place with TAC 2016-17 Reno Bighorns MVP from the Sacramento Kings The Nevada Sagebrush editor-in-chief 2013-15 Associated Collegiate Press 2015 Four-year Non-daily Newspaper Pacemaker honoree University of Nevada, Reno College of Business Dean's List honoree (5x) from 2011-2015 Nevada Press Association award for Best Sports Column – Community in 2015 Education
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