A bill that would apply harsher penalties to illegal gambling operations in Florida has inched closer to becoming law, having emerged from a Senate committee. The bill would give state regulators added tools to crack down on online betting that occurs off of Seminole Tribe lands, as state law requires.
Senate Bill 1404 was approved by the Florida Senate Regulated Industries Committee last week by unanimous vote. Thus, SB 1404, penned by Sen. Corey Simon (R-3rd District), will advance to another committee.
SB 1404 codifies what the state has long believed: that the Seminole Tribe has exclusive rights to offer any online gaming in Florida as part of a 30-year agreement with the state, brokered by Gov. Ron DeSantis. That arrangement has sparked lawsuit challenges previously, none of which have been successful at breaking apart the Seminole monopoly in the Sunshine State.
Hard Rock offers the only legal real-money casinos in Florida
Under Florida law, real-money casino and sports gambling are a monopoly held by the Seminole Tribe, which owns the Hard Rock Bet brand. All its physical properties, including the restaurants, resorts, and casinos, are on tribal land. However, a 2023 decision by the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals has allowed it to offer sports betting statewide through the Hard Rock Bet app. That reality is advantageous to the Seminole Tribe, one of the wealthiest tribal nations in the United States, but it hasn’t led to competition and benefits for consumers.
However, there is still no legal option for the tribe to offer real-money casino gambling online. Filling that void, sweepstakes casinos and social casinos have popped up in Florida, which are technically play-money apps even though they offer the chance at cash prizes. In the eyes of federal law, that makes them not gambling products. However, some states have begun to crack down, and there’s some indication that this Florida bill may be working in that direction.
The bill would also likely impact gray-market “skill machines.” SB 1404 says that all gaming must be conducted under the agreement with the Seminole Tribe, including any that are “based on chance, regardless of any application of skill.”
As we have reported previously, there is a companion bill in the House, HB 953, which is currently with the Industries & Professional Activities Subcommittee.
