Florida's House panel recently passed a comprehensive gambling reform bill, which mainly targets illegal gambling activities with increased penalties and clarifies the legal definition of daily fantasy sports. The bill adds new felony provisions related to manipulating sports events and strengthens enforcement measures against illegal gambling devices.
New felony provisions crack down on match manipulation
The core change in the bill is the addition of several sports betting integrity felonies. Simply put, not only does bribing athletes to affect the outcome of a game constitute a crime, but also knowingly betting on a manipulated game is considered a felony. These provisions were introduced just as NBA player Terry Rozier was arrested in connection with a gambling investigation, which is quite timely.
Clear definition for fantasy sports
For the first time, the bill regulates daily fantasy sports, requiring participants to pay a fee, and the results cannot depend solely on the performance of a single athlete. Notably, college athletes are excluded from these competitions. Look, the Florida Attorney General's Office has already issued a cease and desist letter to platforms like Betr, demanding they stop prop-style games.
Reactions and enhanced penalties
Although there was not much discussion at the hearing, non-profit organizations such as the Veterans Association expressed their opposition to illegal gambling. The bill also increases criminal penalties for illegal slot machines, with the gambling control board enforcement chief bluntly stating that existing misdemeanor penalties are insufficient. On the other hand, the Seminole Tribe has remained silent but supports efforts to clean up illegal gambling.
Urgent need for more enforcement resources
The bill specifically mentions the need to strengthen enforcement forces, with enforcement chief Carl Herrod stating at last week's hearing that more help is needed. The current misdemeanor penalties are insufficient, often making it difficult to combat illegal gambling, which is a key issue this reform aims to address.
