FL H0953

Increases criminal penalties for multiple gambling offenses: keeping a gambling house elevated from second-degree misdemeanor to third-degree felony; renting a house for gambling elevated to third-degree felony (first offense) and second-degree felony (subsequent offenses); betting on contests of skill elevated to third-degree felony; and creates escalating penalties for agents/employees of gambling house keepers based on number of offenses.

Prohibits Internet gambling and Internet sports wagering, defining both terms; playing either is a misdemeanor, while operating, conducting, promoting, or receiving money for Internet gambling or Internet sports wagering is a third-degree felony. An exception applies for gaming activities authorized under the Seminole Tribe gaming compact.

Creates new criminal offenses for trafficking in slot machines or devices (more than 15 units is a first-degree felony with mandatory fines of $100,000 to $500,000 based on quantity), making false or misleading statements about slot machine legality to facilitate sales, transporting persons to facilitate illegal gambling, and advertising illegal gambling.

Preempts to the state the regulation of gaming, gambling, and lotteries, prohibiting counties, municipalities, or other political subdivisions from enacting or enforcing local ordinances on those activities except as expressly provided by the State Constitution, general law, or special law.

Adds personnel of the Florida Gaming Control Commission to the false personation statute, requires courts to consider seized currency from gambling offenses in bail determinations, ranks new gambling offenses in the Criminal Punishment Code severity chart, and takes effect October 1, 2025.