Sen. Bill Galvano, the Florida legislator who proposed significant expansion of the state gambling industry last month, presented on Wednesday an amended and extended version of his Senate Bill 8. The legislative piece is set to be voted on by a second Senate Committee today. If it gains the necessary support by legislators, it will then go to the full Senate floor. This year’s legislative session is scheduled to begin on March 7.
The amended 134-page bill has been added provisions related to the way bingo offering is provided in the state, the addition of new games at local cardrooms, and the regulation of daily fantasy sports, among other things.
Thus, for example, the legislative piece in its current form legalizes the sale of electronic bingo tickets by veterans’ organizations that are charged with this type of offering and are contributing to various charitable causes.
Under the bill’s previous version, licensed cardrooms around the state would be allowed to offer players the opportunity to play certain designated card games. The amended piece states that the Florida Division of Pari-Mutuel Wagering would have 45 days to provide a given cardroom with a list of rules to be complied with by said cardroom when conducting player-designated gambling activities.
The amended legislation also provides for the creation of an Office of Contest Amusements that will be required to set the necessary license and regulatory requirements for any daily fantasy sports operator with interest to operate in Florida. With that said, the state will have a legalized DFS industry, if the bill survives through the prolonged process legislative process.
As mentioned above, the proposed legislation is set to get its second Committee vote today. A separate bill, one introduced to the Florida House of Representatives, will also be voted on today. If voted in the affirmative by the House Tourism and Gaming Control Subcommittee, the legislative piece will have to gain support from one more Committee before facing consideration by the full floor.
The measures proposed by SB 8 and PCB TGC 17-01, the House-sponsored bill, to a great extent contradict each other. For instance, the Senate legislation allows for the addition of player-designated card games at local pari-mutuels, and the House legislation prohibits the move.
The Legislature’s two houses also have opposing views on the addition of slot machines in counties where this had previously been approved by voters. The House has taken a rather conservative stance on the matter, banning expansion of this nature. However, the Senate calls for the addition of this type of gambling devices at local gambling venues.
