Florida lawmakers are once again looking to tighten the rules around sports betting, this time targeting anyone who knowingly bets on a fixed game.
Third-Degree Felony Proposal
The new proposal, House Bill 189, sponsored by Republican Rep. Dana Trabulsy, would make it a third-degree felony to place a wager on any sporting event, professional or amateur, if the bettor knows the result has been rigged.
The proposed substitute for the bill was released Monday and updates existing laws that already make it illegal to bribe players to throw a game.
A similar bill surfaced earlier this year but stalled before reaching a vote. This latest version comes at a time when sports betting scandals are making headlines again. Over the weekend, two Major League Baseball pitchers were charged in connection with an alleged prop-bet fixing scheme, putting match-fixing back in the public eye.
100-Page Package
The new measure doesn’t stand alone, though. It’s part of a nearly 100-page package covering a wide range of gambling issues in Florida, from horse racing and fantasy sports to regulatory updates.
According to a summary, “The bill strengthens penalties for illegal gambling, authorizes the operation of fantasy sports contests, clarifies employee prohibitions governing the Florida Gaming Control Commission, revises reporting requirements related to changes in ownership for pari-mutuel wagering permit holders, and preempts local governments from regulating gaming activities unless expressly provided in Florida law.”
Political reporter Gary Fineout noted that some parts of the fantasy sports language could spark debate.
He pointed out on X that there’s “no explicit carveout … for small dollar fantasy leagues” between friends or coworkers. He also said the bill “will be heard next week – a surefire signal the legislation is on a fast track & has gotten the go-ahead from House leadership.”
If passed, the bill would allow fantasy contests to operate legally in Florida as long as they meet specific conditions, mainly that outcomes can’t depend on the score, point spread, or performance of a team.
It would also make it a third-degree felony for any operator to run fantasy contests that break those rules.
House Bill 189 still has several steps before it becomes law, but with sports integrity and online betting under increased scrutiny, it’s likely to get more attention this time around.