Florida lawmakers propose tougher penalties for illegal gambling

LEE COUNTY, Fla. —

Florida lawmakers are pushing for a major update to gambling laws that could turn some illegal operations into felony crimes, putting pressure on local businesses operating illegal slot machines in Tallahassee.

Lawmakers say House Bill 189 represents one of the most aggressive gambling crackdowns Florida has considered in years.

In October, Lee County deputies raided the Royal Arcade along Palm Beach Boulevard and hauled out 53 illegal slot machines. Having slot machines outside of tribal land is illegal, and these machines can easily be rigged. However, the problem was that these businesses would move elsewhere and buy new machines.

"Law enforcement, I think, is caught in a problem like you're pointing out earlier, that you run out there and do this misdemeanor. And the next day, they're operating down the street because nothing happens. So I don't know - talk to your legislator," Kevin Jursinski, an attorney specializing in gambling, said.

House Bill 189 would make the penalties tougher. The updated proposal doesn’t just target illegal arcades.

It expands enforcement to suppliers, landlords, and even online gambling platforms. Under the bill, bringing large numbers of illegal slot machines into Florida could become a first-degree felony, with fines reaching up to half a million dollars.

There are also new penalties tied to advertising illegal gambling and transporting people to illegal gaming locations.

The timing matters because this bill is now moving through the legislature after months of testimony and pressure from prosecutors and police chiefs who say illegal gambling is tied to other crimes, including thefts and robberies.

Today, lawmakers in the Criminal Justice Subcommittee will consider the bill starting at 10:30 a.m. The bill still has a long way to go, but it could significantly change how illegal gambling is prosecuted across Florida if it passes.

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