Florida bill targets illegal sports bets, updates DFS rules
Florida is considering a major update to its gambling laws. HB 189, a nearly 100-page bill, has passed its first review in the House Industries and Professional Activities Subcommittee. The proposal covers issues such as penalties for match-fixing and rules for fantasy sports. Lawmakers will take it up again when the legislative session begins in January 2026.
Why Florida is updating its gambling laws
Florida’s gambling laws are outdated. With the growth of sports betting, fantasy contests, and illegal gaming machines, the state is working to establish clearer rules that reflect current realities. HB 189 aims to provide a framework that is easier to enforce. The arrest of Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier in an FBI sports betting investigation highlighted risks of match-fixing and exposed gaps in state laws. The case has increased pressure for stronger regulations.
Key features of HB 189
HB 189 is built around two main priorities: protecting the integrity of sports and strengthening law enforcement’s ability to crack down on illegal gambling. This bill introduces new felony charges to address match-fixing. These include offering or accepting bribes to influence a game and taking part in conspiracies to alter outcomes. The bill also makes it a felony to place bets with knowledge that a game has been fixed.
HB 189 provides a clear definition of daily fantasy sports (DFS) in Florida. Under the bill, users can assemble simulated teams, outcomes must involve multiple players, and entry fees are allowed. The law prohibits contests based on a single athlete’s performance and bans any DFS games involving college athletes. Until now, DFS operators have worked in a legal grey area, and the bill sets out clear rules on what is permitted.
Strengthening enforcement
Illegal slot-style machines have been appearing in pubs, petrol stations, and shopfronts across Florida. Current penalties are mostly misdemeanours, which officials say do little to discourage violations. Carl Herold, director of law enforcement at the Florida Gaming Control Commission, told lawmakers that tougher measures are needed. HB 189 proposes higher fines, elevating some offences to felonies, and giving law enforcement more authority to seize illegal machines.
In 2024, the Florida Attorney General ordered PrizePicks, Underdog, and Betr to stop offering prop-style fantasy contests that resembled sports betting. Under HB 189, operators that depend on single-player prediction games will face tighter restrictions and may need to change their products or leave the state. The Seminole Tribe, which holds exclusive rights to sports betting under a state compact, supports efforts to limit illegal gambling, though it has not commented directly on HB 189.
Reaction From lawmakers and stakeholders
Non-profit groups such as the VFW, American Legion, and Florida Moose Association opposed parts of HB 189, not to defend illegal gambling but because charitable gaming rules remain unclear. These organisations run legal fundraising games and want assurance that the bill will not unintentionally restrict them. Rep. Dana Trabulsy, who introduced the measure, said she is willing to work with lawmakers and non-profits to refine the language.
What happens next for HB 189
The bill now moves to the Commerce Committee and the Criminal Justice Subcommittee, where further amendments and debate are expected. When the legislative session begins in January, lawmakers will consider issues such as sports betting rules, daily fantasy sports, enforcement priorities, and the role of tribal gaming. If HB 189 passes in its current form, it would set clearer standards for sports integrity, DFS regulation, and enforcement against illegal gambling, while also opening the door to possible future expansion of sports betting in Florida.
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