Two Florida Anti-Sweepstakes Casino Bills Paused Indefinitely

A decision will not come any time soon for two bills to impose heavy restrictions on sweepstakes casinos in Florida.

The state legislature indefinitely paused Senate Bill 1404 and House Bill 1467, both of which failed to advance out of their respective chambers. If passed, the bills would have criminalized the form of gaming, which has proven to be controversial in numerous states.

The Social and Promotional Games Association (SPGA) celebrated the news and said that sweepstakes casinos will likely remain legal in Florida at least through 2025.

Failed measures

SB 1404, presented by Sen. Corey Simon (R-District 3), intended to prohibit online sweepstakes casinos and mobile sports betting not directed through the Seminole tribe, pursuant to the state’s gaming compact, and online casino games.

HB 1467 would’ve implemented criminal penalties for anyone found guilty of betting on sports with any platform other than Hard Rock, which is part of the arrangement with the Seminoles, and using sweepstakes promotions sites. 

It also wanted to give the Florida Gaming Control Commission more control over the regulation of online platforms, including Fantasy Sports, which have largely been untouched by the state.

The changes would have been made in an attempt to support the state economy, which is projected to have deficits in the coming years and a potential deficit of $7 billion by 2027-28, per Florida TaxWatch.

Florida is not the only state that has tried to take a stand against sweepstakes casinos. However, as noted by an SPGA spokesperson, many of those efforts have proved to be futile.

“The defeat of these bills continues a clear national trend,” said the spokesperson. “In the past few weeks, similar bills have been rejected in Arkansas, Maryland, and Mississippi.

“Lawmakers across the country are rejecting these anti-innovation, anti-business efforts that attempt to dictate what games American adults can play on their phones.”

Tying to keep track

Florida has a strange relationship with gambling, which does not help with the controversial nature of sweepstakes gambling.

Sweepstakes allow visitors to play online casino games without directly risking real money. Gold coins and sweeps coins, which can be but do not need to be purchased, are instead used for access to the games.

Games reward customers with prizes such as cash and gift cards, even though the games themselves don’t necessarily require a cash transaction to be played.

The SPGA was created in September 2024 to defend platforms such as sweepstakes casinos. 48 states do not have any laws preventing sweepstakes gaming, although many have been slow to embrace them. 

Florida notably has a restrictive stance on gambling. It does not allow online casinos, all sports betting must be funneled through Hard Rock and the Seminoles, and tribal retail casinos have exclusive rights to games not found at regular casinos.

There also is no regulatory framework for Daily Fantasy Sports in the state.