Social Gaming Leadership Alliance (SGLA) Executive Director Jeff Duncan publicly disagreed with a recent Florida bill restricting sweepstakes.
The Florida bill, titled HB 591is an 86-page document detailing legal steps being prepared to criminalize online gambling and bolster the Seminole Tribe’s exclusive rights to gambling statewide. It has faced immediate pushback from the gambling casino industry, most notably from the head of SGLA.
“We strongly disagree with the categorization that Social Plus games using sweepstakes promotions have anything in common with illegal offshore gaming operations,” Duncan said in a press release seen by ReadWrite. “HB 591 laudably seeks to stop illegal gambling in the state of Florida, but fails to take into account how legal promotional sweepstakes operate in Florida.
“SGLA’s partner companies operate fully within Florida’s sweepstakes, consumer protection, banking and financial transactions laws, and are committed to additional regulations to ensure Social Plus gaming remains a safe outlet for the millions of Florida adults ages 21 and older seeking casual entertainment.
“We look forward to continuing our constructive relationship with Florida legislators and remain committed to ensuring consumers have access to legal, compliant entertainment in the Sunshine State.”
The details of the Florida bill
HB 591 was introduced on December 2 by Representative Jacques and would take effect on October 1, 2026. It defines “internet gambling” as any game “in which money or another thing of value is awarded based on chance, regardless of any application of skill, that is available on the Internet and accessible on a mobile device, computer terminal, or other similar access device and that simulates casino-style games, including, but not limited to, slot machines, video poker, and table games.”
The bill seeks to make the operation, conduct, or promotion of online gambling under those definitions a third-degree felony. It also explicitly exempts gaming activities conducted under the Seminole Tribe’s compact with the state, affirming the tribe’s exclusive gaming rights.
The legislation also bans gambling advertisements, prevents Florida local governments from regulating gambling activities, and creates new penalties for slot machine trafficking. That includes a first-degree felony with a fine of up to $500,000.
Featured image: Flickrlicensed under CC BY-SA 2.0
The post SGLA rejects Florida bill cracking down on online gambling and sweepstakes appeared first on ReadWrite.
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