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State of Play
- Florida’s Legislature is advancing HB 198, a comprehensive bill targeting illegal slot machines, parimutuels, and sports betting corruption.
- This legislation notably includes provisions to protect veterans’ organizations using amusement games, reflecting a balance between regulation and support for community groups.
House Bill 198 has been approved 13-4 by Florida’s Criminal Justice Subcommittee, spearheaded by Republican Rep. Dana Trabulsy. The bill aims to update state gambling laws by setting clearer rules for daily fantasy sports and establishing criminal penalties for corrupt sports betting activities.
It also grants certain veterans’ organizations a legal pathway to confirm that their amusement games are not illegal slot machines, addressing long-standing regulatory ambiguities. The bill criminalizes possession of illegal slot machines as a second-degree felony and designates the misuse of insider information in sports betting as a third-degree felony.
Minority members raised concerns about potential criminalization of nonprofit organizations operating these machines, prompting discussions on possible exemptions.
Exemption for veterans’ groups still under debate
HB 198 could reshape Florida’s gambling landscape by tightening illicit operations and providing legal clarity.
Veterans groups, often reliant on amusement games for revenue, receive protections that could prevent law enforcement raids if their machines are verified as legal.
However, there is debate over how to exempt nonprofits like VFWs from felony charges, highlighting tensions between enforcement and community interests.
The bill’s focus on integrity in sports betting also aims to deter corruption, potentially boosting consumer confidence in Florida’s market.
Based on reporting by Brant James for Casino Reports.
