HB 1317 - Sports Wagering Summary

• Creates Chapter 547, Florida Statutes to establish a legal framework for sports wagering, asserting that sports wagering does not constitute "casino gambling" under the state constitution

• Authorizes persons age 21 and older to wager on professional sports events, Olympic competitions, and collegiate sports through the Division of Pari-mutuel Wagering or licensed entities, with wagers required to be placed while physically present in Florida

• Establishes licensing authority for pari-mutuel facilities, tribal organization casinos, and professional sports venues to operate retail in-person or online sports pools with individually branded websites and mobile applications

• Prohibits athletes, coaches, referees, team owners (10%+), sports governing bodies, and persons with access to exclusive sports information from wagering on sports events under their jurisdiction

• Establishes criminal penalties including felony charges for unlicensed sports pool operation, fraud, misappropriation of funds, and civil penalties up to $10,000 for false statements, with revenues deposited into the Pari-mutuel Wagering Trust Fund

• Contains contingent effective date of October 1, 2021, requiring passage of HB 1319 and HB 1321 or similar legislation in the same legislative session