Two bills aimed at outlawing these casino-style websites failed to advance and were withdrawn before the session concluded.
This means that sweepstakes casinos – online platforms that offer slot-style games with prize entries – can continue operating in Florida for now.
Bills to Ban Online Casinos Pulled
Florida legislators introduced two measures in early 2025 to crack down on internet sweepstakes casinos and related online betting.
Senate Bill 1404 (SB 1404), sponsored by Senator Corey Simon, sought to prohibit online casino-style gambling and mobile sports betting outside the state’s agreement with the Seminole Tribe.
It defined “internet gambling” broadly to include any casino-style game of chance played for money or prizes on a computer or phone. The bill passed through two committees but did not reach a full Senate vote before time ran out.
House Bill 1467 (HB 1467), introduced by Representative John Snyder, was a wider-ranging proposal. It aimed to toughen penalties for running illegal gambling, ban sweepstakes gaming, and even formally legalize daily fantasy sports under state regulation.
HB 1467 passed the Florida House and made it to the Senate, but it stalled in committee during the final week of the session.
Lawmakers extended the legislative session until June 6 to finish the state budget, but gambling bills were left off the agenda. With no further hearings, both SB 1404 and HB 1467 were set aside indefinitely, effectively killing them for this year.
Senator Corey Simon argued that the ban was needed to protect Florida from unregulated betting.
“Without more substantial penalties, illegal gambling will continue to spread, siphoning money from Florida,”
Simon said at a Senate hearing in support of SB 1404.
Supporters of the bills viewed sweepstakes casinos as a loophole that diverts revenue from the state’s regulated gambling industry.
Tribal Gaming and Opposition Concerns
Florida’s existing gambling compact gives the Seminole Tribe (owners of Hard Rock casinos) exclusive rights to offer certain forms of online betting. The proposed legislation would have strengthened the tribe’s monopoly by banning outside competitors.
Critics argued that the bills were designed to fortify the Seminole Tribe’s control over online gambling in Florida. They warned that outlawing sweepstakes sites would stifle competition and innovation.
Industry groups and cyber café owners have long claimed that sweepstakes casinos operate legally under contest laws, allowing players to win prizes without traditional gambling. These groups were relieved to see the Florida bills fail.
The Social and Promotional Games Association (SPGA), which represents sweepstakes operators, praised the outcome.
“The defeat of these bills continues a clear national trend… In the past few weeks, similar bills have been rejected in Arkansas, Maryland, and Mississippi,”
an SPGA spokesperson said in a statement.
“Lawmakers across the country are rejecting these anti-innovation, anti-business efforts that attempt to dictate what games American adults can play on their phones.”
SPGA called the bills’ failure a win for consumers and small businesses. They argued that if the measures had passed, they would have
“criminalized free-to-play digital entertainment,”
since the broad definitions could have outlawed the dual-currency models popular in sweepstakes games.
Critics celebrated the bills’ collapse as a victory for digital innovation, competition, and consumer choice in Florida.
Similar Moves in Other States
Florida is not alone – other states have debated sweepstakes casino bans in 2024 and 2025. No such ban has become law yet, but several states saw high-profile attempts:
- Mississippi: Lawmakers considered a bill to both legalize mobile sports betting and ban online sweepstakes casinos. The proposal passed the state Senate unanimously but died after the House and Senate could not agree, partly due to disputes over sports betting expansion.
- Maryland: The Maryland Senate approved a sweepstakes casino ban, but the bill ran out of time before the House could vote as the 2024 session ended.
- Arkansas: Legislators in Arkansas introduced an “emergency” bill to outlaw unlicensed online sweepstakes casinos while legalizing state-regulated online casinos. That bill was eventually withdrawn by its sponsor, ending the effort for 2025.
- Louisiana: In contrast, Louisiana’s legislature moved swiftly. The state Senate voted 39-0 in April 2025 to ban sweepstakes casinos using dual-currency systems. That bill, targeting slot-style games offered as “promotional” contests, is awaiting a House vote and would impose fines up to $100,000 for violators.
- Northeastern States: Connecticut’s Senate Judiciary Committee advanced a bill to ban online sweepstakes gaming (and lottery courier apps) with unanimous support. New York lawmakers also put forward companion bills to prohibit sweepstakes casinos; the effort prompted some sweepstakes sites to exit the New York market in anticipation of a potential ban.
Large states like Texas and California have so far taken a hands-off approach. In Texas, online casino gambling is illegal, but the state has not specifically outlawed sweepstakes casino sites, which operate in a legal gray area.
California also allows sweepstakes-based gaming sites to operate under its sweepstakes laws, without new legislation targeting them.
North Carolina, which banned physical video sweepstakes parlors in 2010, still sees online sweepstakes games offered to its residents, highlighting the challenge of enforcing these bans across state lines.
Outlook
The failure of Florida’s sweepstakes casino bills in 2025 reflects a broader national debate over how to handle these online gaming platforms. For now, Florida’s sweepstakes casinos remain legal by avoiding traditional betting currency, much to the relief of their operators.
Lawmakers in Florida could reintroduce similar proposals in future sessions. Any renewed push is likely to face the same tug-of-war between those citing consumer protection and those advocating for business freedom.
As states from Pennsylvania to New York weigh crackdowns on unregulated gambling websites, Florida’s decision to hit pause is being watched closely.
The coming year will show whether more states follow Louisiana’s path in banning sweepstakes casinos or echo Florida’s stance in letting them continue – at least for now.
