The fight against unregulated sweepstakes gambling across the US continues, with lawmakers in Florida the latest to propose a blanket ban on these operations. The supposedly free-to-play sportsbooks and online casinos try to skirt laws by not directly paying out real money when someone wins.
California tribes originally flagged their dangers in October, with the American Gaming Association (AGA) informing state regulators to take note shortly thereafter.
felony to offer any form of internet gambling outside of the Seminole Tribe’s sports betting operations
Companion bills are now in the Florida Senate and House aiming to ban sweepstakes gaming. If the legislation goes into effect, it would be a third-degree felony to offer any form of internet gambling outside of the Seminole Tribe’s sports betting operations.
The language used in the bills defines internet gambling as when anything of value is “awarded based on chance, regardless of any application of skill, that is available on the Internet.”
Other states with pending legislation regarding sweepstakes gambling include Mississippi, Connecticut, and Maryland.
