Florida aims to ensure that all gambling activity is conducted through transparent and heavily regulated channels
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier is taking a firm stance against the state’s expanding shadow gambling economy. While the legal gaming framework anchored by the Seminole Tribe has flourished, Uthmeier warns that unregulated storefronts and offshore sites are siphoning millions from taxpayers.
Uthmeier is currently championing a dual-track strategy of aggressive law enforcement paired with legislative reform to protect Florida’s highly regulated market, which is expected to generate over $4 billion through 2030.
The scale of this underground market was highlighted by the Florida Gaming Control Commission’s recent data. In 2025, the agency seized more than $14.4 million in cash and confiscated 6,725 illegal slot machines, a massive jump from the previous year.
Uthmeier describes these illicit hubs as a “whack-a-mole” issue, as many businesses reopen under new names almost immediately after being raided. These unlicensed venues often lack basic consumer protections and provide zero tax benefits to the public.
To modernize the state’s defense, Uthmeier is backing two key pieces of legislation for the 2026 session: HB 189 and HB 591. These bills aim to elevate many gambling-related offenses from simple misdemeanors to serious felonies.
HB 189 specifically targets the integrity of sports, seeking harsh penalties for bribing athletes or betting with insider information. Meanwhile, HB 591 focuses on organized operations, introducing a first-degree felony for trafficking 15 or more illegal slot machines into the state.
The Attorney General’s office is also looking closely at “sweepstakes” casinos, which often claim a legal exemption based on their dual-currency models. Uthmeier has already issued subpoenas to several operators to scrutinize their financial flows and compliance with state law.
