FL H1383

Creates the Department of Gaming Control (effective July 1, 2014) headed by a 5-member Gaming Control Commission appointed by the Governor from nominees submitted by a 6-member Joint Legislative Gaming Control Nominating Committee; commissioners serve staggered 4-year terms, are subject to Senate confirmation, and are bound by strict ethics rules including a 2-year post-employment lobbying/employment ban and prohibition on wagering at licensed facilities

Consolidates all gaming oversight by transferring the Division of Pari-mutuel Wagering from the Department of Business and Professional Regulation and game promotion functions from the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to the new department (effective October 1, 2014), reorganizing Chapter 551 into six parts covering gaming control, pari-mutuel wagering, slot machines, cardrooms, occupational licensing, and miscellaneous gaming

Establishes comprehensive pari-mutuel wagering regulations for thoroughbred racing (minimum 40 live performances/year), harness racing (minimum 100 performances), quarter horse racing (20–40 performances), and jai alai (40–150 performances depending on slot machine status), with detailed tax rates on live handle (0.5%–2%) and intertrack wagering (0.5%–7.1%), daily license fees of $40–$100 per event, and 15% admission taxes

Mandates purse and breeder award funding including minimum purse payments of 6%–8.25% of pari-mutuel pool contributions depending on racing type, breeder awards of 15%–20% of announced gross purse for Florida-bred winners, and special provisions for the Breeders' Cup meet including tax exemptions and up to $950,000 in tax credits for host and nearby licensees

Limits slot machine eligibility to licensed pari-mutuel facilities in Miami-Dade and Broward counties that conducted live racing/games during 2002–2003, with a conditional expansion provision for counties approving slot machines in a presidential-election-year referendum—contingent on execution of an amended Seminole Tribal compact approved by the U.S. Department of the Interior

Imposes a 35% tax on slot machine revenues deposited into the Educational Enhancement Trust Fund, with an initial license fee of $3 million, annual renewal fees of $2 million, a maximum of 2,000 machines per licensee, a minimum 85% payout requirement, and civil penalties up to $100,000 per violation; slot licensees must maintain binding agreements with thoroughbred and quarter horse racing associations for purse and breeder award funding, with mandatory arbitration if agreements cannot be reached

Authorizes cardrooms exclusively at licensed pari-mutuel facilities for poker and dominoes played in a nonbanking manner, subject to a 10% tax on gross monthly receipts, annual license fees of $1,000 per table, a $50,000 surety bond, local government approval, and operating hours of 18 hours/day on weekdays and 24 hours/day on weekends and holidays

Strengthens gambling prohibitions by consolidating and restructuring Chapter 849 provisions on illegal gambling houses, slot machine possession, lottery operations, and gambling devices, adding a new prohibition on knowingly renting property for gambling purposes, and establishing escalating penalties from second-degree misdemeanor (first offense) to third-degree felony (third offense/"common offender") for slot machine violations

Regulates amusement games and machines with a new registration requirement through a Division of Amusements, a per-game merchandise redemption value cap of 75 cents, a direct merchandise award wholesale cost cap of $50, and explicit exclusions for casino-style games, video poker, and devices classified as gambling devices under federal law

Revokes all for-profit pari-mutuel permits issued before January 1, 2012, under which live wagering has not occurred since that date, imposes a moratorium on new pari-mutuel permits and slot machine licenses, and establishes a reorganization implementation timeline requiring commission appointment of an executive director by August 1, 2014, with full implementation coordinated between the new department and the Department of Business and Professional Regulation