Latest news with #FloridaGamingControlCommission
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
What gambling is legal and illegal in Florida?
The Brief Gambling in Florida is highly regulated, with only specific forms allowed, such as pari-mutuel wagering, tribal casino games, the Florida Lottery, and penny-ante games under strict conditions. Illegal activities include unlicensed slot machines, online gambling, unauthorized lotteries, and operating unlawful gambling houses, all prohibited under Chapter 849 of the Florida Statutes. Penalties vary by offense and can result in misdemeanor or felony charges, fines, or jail time. ORLANDO, Fla. - Osceola County Sheriff Marcos Lopez was arrested Thursday on racketeering and conspiracy charges tied to an illegal gambling operation that generated over $21 million across Central Florida. Gambling is largely restricted in Florida due to the state's constitutional and legislative framework. According to the Florida Gaming Control Commission, the following forms of gambling are legal in the state: Pari-mutuel wagering on live and intertrack horse and jai-alai activities at licensed racetracks and jai-alai frontons. Casino gambling, including slots and table games, on certain Indian tribal lands. The Florida lottery games. Poker and Dominoes played for money, but only in a licensed cardrooms Penny-ante games including poker, pinochle, bridge, rummy, canasta, hearts, dominoes, and mah-jongg may be played outside a cardroom only if the winnings of any player in a single game do not exceed $10 in value. Slot machine gaming at one of the eight licensed pari-mutuel facilities located in Miami-Dade or Broward Counties. Bingo, sweepstakes, and drawings for chance, if they comply with state law. Under Chapter 849 of the Florida Statutes, the following activities are prohibited: Unlicensed Slot Machines: Operating or possessing slot machines outside of authorized facilities, such as tribal casinos or licensed pari-mutuel venues in Miami-Dade and Broward counties, is illegal. Unregulated Sports Betting: Engaging in sports betting, including bookmaking or wagering on athletic events, is prohibited unless conducted through authorized channels. Unauthorized Lotteries and Raffles: Conducting lotteries or raffles without proper authorization is illegal. Illegal Gambling Houses: Operating or maintaining a place for gambling activities without a license is a criminal offense. Unlicensed Poker Games: Hosting poker games that involve a rake or house fee without proper licensing is unlawful. Online Gambling: Participating in online casino games or poker through unlicensed platforms is prohibited. Sweepstakes Parlors: Operating establishments that mimic casino games under the guise of sweepstakes promotions is illegal. Illegal Bingo Operations: Conducting bingo games outside the scope of authorized charitable or nonprofit organizations is against the law. RELATED ARTICLE: Osceola County Sheriff Marcos Lopez arrested on racketeering charges, officials say The Florida Gaming Control Commission has a map on their website where all legal Florida gaming facilities are listed. LINK: Locations In Florida, penalties for illegal gambling depend on the specific offense and the details of the case. Under Chapter 849 of the Florida Statutes, violations can range from misdemeanors to felonies and may result in significant fines, civil penalties, or imprisonment. For detailed information, consult Chapter 849 of the Florida Statutes, and consider speaking with an attorney for advice tailored to your situation. What we know A multi-agency investigation led by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and joined by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) was launched in 2023. Officials say the investigation uncovered a criminal organization operating an illegal gambling enterprise throughout Central Florida, particularly in Lake and Osceola counties. Officials say the organization generated more than $21.6 million in illicit proceeds. Following Lopez's election as Osceola County Sheriff in November 2020, investigators say he continued to advance the interests of the criminal organization and collected a portion of the illegal gambling proceeds for his involvement. RELATED ARTICLE: Who is Marcos Lopez, Osceola County Sheriff arrested on racketeering charges? What's next Lopez is being charged with racketeering and conspiracy to commit racketeering, according to officials with the Federal Department of Justice (FDOJ) and Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier. Senior Assistant Statewide Prosecutors Colleen Monroe and Panagiota Papakos will prosecute the defendants in Florida's Fifth Judicial Circuit. Lopez is currently being held in the Lake County Jail. STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 35 ORLANDO: Download the FOX Local app for breaking news alerts, the latest news headlines Download the FOX 35 Storm Team Weather app for weather alerts & radar Sign up for FOX 35's daily newsletter for the latest morning headlines FOX Local: Stream FOX 35 newscasts, FOX 35 News+, Central Florida Eats on your smart TV The Source This story was written based on information gathered from the Florida Gaming Control Commission, the Osceola County Sheriff's Office website and shared by the Federal Department of Justice (FDOJ), Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier.
Miami Herald
21-03-2025
- Business
- Miami Herald
Florida's top gambling regulator became a FanDuel lobbyist. A bill would bar a repeat
As Florida's first gambling regulator, Louis Trombetta took an aggressive approach to fantasy sports betting, driving three upstart companies to shut down their games in the state. Then he went to work for one of their competitors. The sudden about-face has raised questions by ethics experts about the revolving door between regulators and the industry – a door one state lawmaker wants to shut behind Trombetta. A House Republican's bill would close a loophole that allowed Trombetta to accept a job with FanDuel — one of North America's biggest fantasy-sports and betting companies — while working as the Florida Gaming Control Commission's top regulator. HB 1467 would expand the state's lobbying ban to explicitly state that Florida's gambling regulator cannot work for fantasy sports companies for two years after leaving the post. Rep. John Snyder, a Palm City Republican, said his bill — which would also more formally legalize and regulate fantasy sports in Florida — wasn't necessarily in reaction to Trombetta's move. Instead, it was about 'fairness in the marketplace.' 'Any time you have a regulator in a position to make significant decisions on the industry, I think it's important they sit on the bench for a little bit before they get back into it,' Snyder said. Trombetta did not respond to a request for comment. FanDuel noted that Trombetta took steps to eliminate his access to sensitive regulatory data after accepting an offer to work for the company, and said that they are not regulated by the Florida Gaming Control Commission because the games they offer in Florida are not considered gambling. 'FanDuel is not a sports betting or iGaming license holder in the state of Florida and is not subject to regulatory oversight by the Florida Gaming Control Commission,' a company spokesperson said in a statement. They added that 'FanDuel has no comment on the regulatory actions the state of Florida may have taken involving other companies.' Trombetta, a gambling lawyer, was chosen as Florida's first executive director of the state's new Gaming Control Commission in March 2022. The Commission was created to enforce gambling laws and restrictions in Florida after Gov. Ron DeSantis' new agreement with the Seminole Tribe — called a compact — giving the Tribe exclusive rights to offer sports betting in Florida. That compact had a carveout for fantasy sports 'contests,' a rapidly-evolving industry that has rivaled sports betting in popularity. Unlike sports betting, in which a player bets on the outcome of a game against the casino, fantasy sports players have traditionally competed with each other to pick the best-performing roster of athletes in any particular sport over a period of time. Because of that difference, fantasy sports — which according to one study is projected to grow to $59.63 billion by 2029, in part due to its 'enhanced user engagement features' and 'gamification' — has been described as a game of skill, like poker, instead of luck. But the fantasy sports industry has changed dramatically as states across the country legalize gambling. Fantasy platforms started allowing players to bet on multiple game outcomes and players' performances at the same time — similar to sports parlays offered at casinos. And if the players lose, the platform keeps the money, much like a casino. A spokesperson for the Seminole Tribe told the Herald/Times these new games were encroaching on their exclusive gambling agreement with the state. The compact generally gives the Tribe exclusive rights over casino-style games where the 'house' backs the games and wins a profit from them. Trombetta targeted three companies that began offering those casino-like games in Florida: PrizePicks, Underdog, and Betr. But he didn't make a distinction between them and the traditional fantasy contests in the cease-and-desist letters he issued in 2023. Rather, he told the companies that any and all fantasy gaming outside of the compact was illegal and threatened them with jail time. 'Under Florida law, betting or wagering on the result of contests of skill, such as sports betting, including fantasy sports betting, is strictly prohibited and constitutes a felony offense unless such activity is otherwise exempted by statute,' Trombetta wrote in the letters. Florida gambling and ethics expert Bob Jarvis similarly said all fantasy sports betting is illegal in Florida. 'Florida is one of the few jurisdictions that says that betting on a game, even if it is a game that involves skill (as opposed to chance), is illegal,' Jarvis, a law professor at Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, wrote in an email. Trombetta never sent cease and desist letters to the two giants in the sports betting industry: FanDuel and DraftKings. Both companies offer fantasy sports betting in Florida, although not the parlay-style system offered by the three upstarts. There is no evidence to suggest the Gaming Commission intends to take action to shut down any of the fantasy games currently offered in Florida, though the Commission's own website suggests the games operate in a legal gray area. Trombetta — whose position afforded him access to confidential data, criminal investigative information and trade secrets — resigned from the gaming commission in December 2024 and went to lobby for FanDuel later that month as their director of government relations. His decision not to send letters to FanDuel and DraftKings raised eyebrows at the time. Three days after receiving his company's cease and desist letter, Underdog Founder and CEO Jeremy Levine pointed out the inconsistency on the platform X. He posted emails showing his general counsel followed up with the commission, which reiterated that all paid fantasy contests were illegal. The Florida Gaming Control Commission did not respond to multiple requests for comment. Sen. Joe Gruters, a Sarasota Republican, also wrote to Trombetta in 2023 asking why the two largest fantasy sports operators were excluded from the commission's enforcement. 'I am concerned that the Commission is applying an interpretation that is not supported by law and that the Commission may be selectively enforcing its interpretation,' Gruters wrote. Gruters said he later spoke to Trombetta, who assured him that cease-and-desist letters would also be sent to DraftKings and FanDuel, News Service of Florida reported at the time. Those letters were never sent. Gruters told the Herald/Times last week that he wasn't aware that Trombetta had taken a job lobbying for FanDuel. He wasn't surprised. 'Makes sense,' Gruters said. The FanDuel spokesperson said a 'publicly posted search' led to Trombetta's hiring, and said he voluntarily filed a public disclosure on Nov. 15 transferring the responsibility for managing confidential information to a deputy director, 'eliminating any potential concerns about the important ongoing work of the Commission.' After Trombetta's cease-and-desist letters, PrizePicks, Underdog and Betr stopped offering their more innovative parlay games. They restarted their platforms to offer more traditional fantasy sports betting similar to FanDuel and DraftKings. Trombetta's move 'raises long-troubling issues with respect to potential conflicts of interest, risks of regulatory capture, and opportunities to misuse a public position to secure personal benefit,' Michael Klein, an ethics and law expert at the University of Miami School of Law, wrote in an email. But Jarvis, the gambling law and ethics expert, said he was not surprised or even bothered by Trombetta's quick move to FanDuel. The new Florida gaming commission is going through common 'growing pains.' 'Does this look bad? Yeah, it looks bad,' said Jarvis in an interview. 'But is this shocking? Is it surprising? Is it the first time it's ever happened? No, no and no.' He added: 'Maybe I'm just too jaded because I've seen this so many times.'
Yahoo
05-03-2025
- Yahoo
5 arrested, nearly 60 illegal slot machines seized in Sarasota County illegal gambling investigation
SARASOTA COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA) — The Sarasota County Sheriff's Office announced Tuesday that five people were arrested on charges related to illegal gambling. The sheriff's office said it worked with the Florida Gaming Control Commission (FGCC) to arrest 34-year-old Ciara Boles, 29-year-old Stivi Breshani, 26-year-old Emily Gill, 44-year-old Ilir Iskali and 42-year-old Christine McCormack. Deputies said the arrests were the result of an investigation that began in April 2024 into multiple illegal gambling establishments within the county. 'Our agency has received many complaints about these illegal establishments popping up in Sarasota County. This is the first of many steps towards holding them accountable and closing them down,' Sheriff Kurt A. Hoffman said. 'She's in real pain': 911 call details urgent moments after alligator bit woman's arm in Polk County The sheriff's office said it arrested Gill at the business on Feb. 26. The SCSO Fugitive Apprehension Unit assisted with the location and arrests of Boles and McCormack on the same day. Two days later, an additional arrest warrant was obtained for Breshani, who was arrested and taken into custody. On March 3, Iskali turned himself in at the Sarasota County Correctional Facility. According to deputies, all five people were charged with criminal enterprise (RICO). Additional charges among the five suspects included possession of a slot machine, maintaining a gambling establishment and money laundering. The sheriff's office said almost 60 illegal slot machines were seized from the business. 'The Florida Gaming Control Commission is proud to partner with Sarasota County Sheriff's Office. SCSO has made its home safer by targeting those responsible for siphoning away funds from their neighbors with illegal slot machines. These unlawful machines are unregulated and lack any consumer protections,' said Ross Marshman, Florida Gaming Control Commission Acting Executive Director. Investigators said they are still searching for another suspect, Llia Lulo. Anyone with information regarding Lulo's whereabouts is asked to submit an anonymous tip to Crimestoppers at 941-366-8477 or Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
04-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Florida Gaming Control Commission highlights DeSantis' Focus on Fiscal Responsibility Budget
The Florida Gaming Control Commission highlights Governor Ron Desants' Focus on Fiscal Responsibility Budget, which includes investments ensuring the preservation and protection of the state's gambling activities. >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] Desantis' budget ensures that the Commission can regulate and license legal gaming in Florida, enforce gaming laws, and strike down illegal activities throughout the state. Budget investments include $784,000 for technology to enhance illegal gaming investigations, $225,000 for additional enforcement and investigation staffing, and $2.1 million for warehouse storage to house seized equipment following enforcement operations 'The Commission is grateful for Governor DeSantis' steadfast support to successfully execute the mission and vision for gaming in Florida, including an ongoing strategic focus on combatting illegal gaming activity,' says Acting Executive Director Ross Marshman. 'The ability to improve and leverage resources solidifies our ability to ensure the integrity of legal gaming experiences for Floridians and visitors, as well as to safeguard state revenues for key educational and environmental programs.' Concerns and reports about illegal gambling activities or facilities in Florida are valuable and can be submitted online at HERE, by email at Contact@ or by phone at 850-880-3433. [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.
