In late February, two bills were introduced in the Florida legislature that would expand the state’s ban on different gambling forms. Per one report, this would include “sweepstakes casinos,” internet casino gaming, and online sports betting outside its compact with the Seminole Tribe. Rep. Walter Barnaby filed HB953 in late February while Sen. Corey Simon filed his companion bill, S1404, in the upper chamber a couple of days later. The language in the bills expands the ban to “internet gambling” and “internet sports wagering.” The bills as written leave room for interpretation; one is that the Seminole Tribe may be looking to expand into internet casino gaming via Hard Rock, and another is that the bill is an effective ban on sweepstakes casinos.
In this article, SBS will be going over what to look for from the latest gaming news coming from the Sunshine State, as well as some additional notes and info coming from SBS.
Covered in the same report, Hard Rock expanded its retail casino suite of games to include Class III gaming – including mobile sports betting – with the 30-year compact it signed with the state in May 2021. This agreement is worth at least $500 million annually. That compact has also withstood multiple legal challenges at the state and federal levels, and Hard Rock has been offering online sports betting since December 2023.
Additionally, the report goes on to define how “internet gambling” and “internet sports wagering” is defined. In both bills, “internet gambling” has been amended to be defined as the following, “means to play or engage in any game in which money or other thing of value is awarded based on chance, regardless of any application of skill. That is available on the Internet and accessible on a mobile device, computer terminal, or other similar access device and simulates casino-style gaming, including, but not limited to, slot machines, video poker, and table games.”
The key phrase, the report notes, appears to be “simulates casino-style gaming,” as that looks to be a direct challenge to sweepstakes casinos, which can offer free-to-play casino gaming with rewards that can result in payouts.
Per the same article, internet sports betting is more straightforward in the bills given it is currently in place. Barnaby and Simon defined it as a “means to stake, bet, or wager any money or other thing of value upon the result of any trial or contest of skill, speed, power, or endurance of human or beast. That is available on the Internet and accessible on a mobile device, computer terminal, or other similar access device.”
There are of course legal penalties for both players and providers of such contests. Players who engage in internet gambling are guilty of a second-degree misdemeanor, but it takes two offenses to reach that threshold for internet sports betting. Anyone considered a provider of either internet gambling or internet sports betting, be it an operator, supplier, vendor, and/or payment processor, would be committing a third-degree felony.
On the surface, the report points out, these two bills and the recent flurry of cease-and-desist letters sent by the Florida Gaming Control Commission to three of the largest offshore casino operators in the world could pave the way for Hard Rock to extend its de facto online monopoly beyond sports betting and into iGaming. There was originally language in the compact that the two sides could negotiate towards an amendment to authorize the Seminole Tribe to offer “all types of covered games online or via mobile devices to players physically located in the state,” but it was removed. Opponents of that clause have since left the state legislature, which means it is possible the two sides could try to create amendments authorizing iGaming.
Per the report, if Hard Rock were to launch iGaming, it would likely make Florida the largest market for internet casino gaming in the United States. Only seven states currently conduct legalized iGaming, with Michigan, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania the largest marketplaces. Of course, should this expansion continue to progress, there will definitely be some friction between the native tribe and national gaming powers looking to break into the Florida gaming scene. As regular readers of this space are aware, this is not a simple, straightforward path, at least when it comes to gaming regulations within the Sunshine State and in other states that are in “gaming gray areas.”
Once you are all up to speed in relation to the latest gaming updates and thoughts coming from the Sunshine State, make sure to of course check out the variety of information for you at SBS. Of course, for even more insights on the topic covered here, the Florida sports betting guide has you covered with all of the latest updates coming from the area. Additionally, for those interested in some higher-stakes wagering and who qualify, the VIP sports betting sites rundown is an excellent page to peruse. Here you can learn more about the perks of VIP wagering and if it might make sense for you. Finally, for those who qualify and are interested, the best bonus betting sites breakdown is a fantastic page to learn more about how to maximize your wagers and beyond with a catalogue of the latest and greatest welcome bonuses.
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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