Florida HB 189: Gambling

Bill Text

CS/CS/CS/HB 189 2026

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb189-03-c3
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A bill to be entitled 1
An act relating to gambling; amending s. 16.712, F.S.; 2
revising the contents of an annual report by the 3
Florida Gaming Control Commission; amending s. 16.713, 4
F.S.; prohibiting certain appointment or employment 5
for a specified period before or during service with 6
the commission; amending s. 16.715, F.S.; revising 7
standards of conduct for the commission; prohibiting 8
certain post-employment activities for former 9
commissioners and employees for a specified period; 10
amending s. 20.055, F.S.; revising the definition of 11
the term "agency head"; requiring the Florida Gaming 12
Control Commission's agency head to appoint an 13
inspector general; amending s. 546.10, F.S.; 14
authorizing certain organizations to petition the 15
commission before purchasing, installing, or operating 16
a game or machine on their premises before petitioning 17
for and being issued a specified declaratory statement 18
from the commission if the organizations are unsure if 19
such game or machine is an amusement machine; 20
prohibiting such organizations from purchasing or 21
installing a game or machine until an outstanding 22
declaratory statement is issued; prohibiting such 23
organizations from seeking a declaratory statement if 24
the game or machine in question is the subject of a 25

CS/CS/CS/HB 189 2026

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb189-03-c3
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criminal investigation; authorizing petitions to be 26
denied for specified grounds; requiring the commission 27
to issue a declaratory statement within a specified 28
timeframe; prohibiting the commission from denying a 29
petition if it was validly requested; specifying the 30
information that must be included in a request for a 31
declaratory statement; providing that the declaratory 32
statement is valid only for the game or machine for 33
which it is requested; providing that the declaratory 34
statement is invalid if the specifications for the 35
game or machine have been changed; providing that the 36
declaratory statement is binding on the commission and 37
may be introduced as evidence in subsequent 38
proceedings; providing construction; amending s. 39
550.002, F.S.; revising the definition of the term 40
"ultimate equitable owner"; amending s. 550.054, F.S.; 41
revising when commission approval is needed for 42
transfers of stock or other evidence of ownership of 43
certain pari-mutuel permitholders; amending s. 44
550.09512, F.S.; removing provisions requiring 45
reissuance of escheated harness horse permits; 46
amending s. 550.09515, F.S.; prohibiting reissuance of 47
horse permits to certain permitholders who do not pay 48
tax on handle for live races for a specified period; 49
removing provisions requiring reissuance of escheated 50

CS/CS/CS/HB 189 2026

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
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horse permits; amending s. 838.12, F.S.; prohibiting 51
betting on athletic contests with knowledge that the 52
results are prearranged or predetermined; providing 53
criminal penalties; amending s. 849.01, F.S.; revising 54
criminal penalties for offenses involving keeping a 55
gambling house; amending s. 849.02, F.S.; increasing 56
criminal penalties for specified offenses by agents or 57
employees of a keeper of a gambling house; creating s. 58
849.021, F.S.; defining the terms "government 59
employee" and "political subdivision"; providing that 60
government emloyees who take certain actions relating 61
to gaming houses are subject to specified punishment; 62
providing an exception; creating s. 849.023, F.S.; 63
providing definitions; providing that certain 64
violations of law may result in the loss of specified 65
licenses or denial of application; authorizing 66
licensees to retain, apply for, and be reissued a 67
license in specified circumstances; providing 68
additional penalties; amending s. 849.03, F.S.; 69
revising criminal penalties for offenses involving 70
renting a house for gambling purposes; amending s. 71
849.08, F.S.; providing definitions; prohibiting 72
Internet gambling and Internet sports wagering and 73
related offenses; providing criminal penalties; 74
providing an exceptions; amending s. 849.086, F.S.; 75

CS/CS/CS/HB 189 2026

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
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prohibiting specified actions relating to the 76
manipulation of card games; providing criminal 77
penalties; creating s. 849.0932, F.S.; defining the 78
term "fantasy sports contest"; requiring such contests 79
to meet specified requiremen