Florida’s gaming machines may soon face a regulatory shake-up as lawmakers push for tighter oversight.
Fleming Island Republican Sen. Jennifer Bradley has filed a measure (SB 204) to more strongly regulate gaming devices such as amusement games and slot machines, especially those operated by certain veterans organizations.[1]
Under the legislation, veterans organizations would need to send a petition to the Florida Gaming Control Commission[2] before purchasing or installing a game or machine, or before allowing an existing machine to be operated if there is any uncertainty about its legality.
The Commission would then be required to issue a declaratory judgment within 60 days of the petition’s filing on whether the machines are permitted.
The statement would be binding on the Commission and could be used as evidence of good-faith compliance, but would become invalid if the machine’s specifications change in any way.
The original petition would need to include a federal charter and an alcoholic beverage license for each game or machine that the operators run. Petitions must also include the exact specifications of the game or machine and provide sufficient details to allow the Commission to make a decision.
An organization would be prohibited from submitting a petition to the Commission if the game, machine, premises or organization is under a criminal investigation, and the bill would not prevent any investigations or prosecutions from law enforcement.
The bill notes that the Commission does not require all amusement machine operators to seek a declaratory statement, only those in doubt. It would also make it a third-degree felony for persons of authority — which is defined as anyone with control over a location offering slot machines — to manufacture, possess, sell or operate illegal slot machines.
Shipping legal gaming machines, including slot machines, to tribal lands in Florida would also be allowed, as long as those lands are federally recognized and the tribe has a valid gaming agreement with the state under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act of 1988.[3]
During the 2025 Legislative Session, Tallahassee Republican Sen. Corey Simon filed a gaming bill (SB 1404) that included an amendment adopted by Bradley[5]. The amendment would have allowed veteran organizations to check that the machines they had complied with Florida Gaming Commission rules. However, the bill stalled.[4]
If passed, the bill would take effect on July 1, 2026
References
- ^ SB 204 (www.flsenate.gov)
- ^ Florida Gaming Control Commission (flgaming.gov)
- ^ Gaming Regulatory Act of 1988 (www.nigc.gov)
- ^ SB 1404 (www.flsenate.gov)
- ^ Bradley (floridapolitics.com)