Florida Legislature Says No to Anti-Sweepstakes Bills

Florida just became the newest state to stop lawmakers from banning online sweepstakes-type games. Two bills, State Senate Bill 1404 and House Bill 1467, tried to make certain digital promotions and internet games illegal. However, these bills did not make it through before the 2025 legislative session ended.

SPGA Applauds Florida’s Rejection of Sweeping Anti-Gaming Bills

This news got a thumbs-up from the Social and Promotional Games Association (SPGA). The SPGA has made itself known as a loud critic of what it sees as policies that go too far and stifle innovative ideas. The group pointed out a growing trend across the country, noting that lawmakers in Arkansas, Maryland, and Mississippi have also pushed back on similar bills in recent weeks.

The two Florida proposals, backed in part by Sen. Corey Simon, aimed to ban dual-currency sweepstakes gaming, internet casino-style play, and sports betting, which is not run under the Seminole Tribe’s gaming compact. If these bills had passed, they would have created felony-level punishments for taking part in certain online games, even if those games did not involve traditional gambling methods.

Critics of the bills said the wording was too vague and could catch popular promotional campaigns by big brands like McDonald’s and Starbucks. In addition, people worried about how the laws might affect the economy. Those against the bills claimed that putting these limits in place would not just restrict what consumers can do but also cut down on legal business activities. This could make the state’s big budget gap even worse.

Session Extension Won’t Revive Gaming Bills as Florida Prioritizes Budget Talks

Even though Governor Ron DeSantis can stretch out the session and look at stuck proposals again, the current extra time, going until early June, is just to talk about the budget. This means SB 1404 and HB 1467 will not move forward anymore this year.

SPGA spokespeople stressed that this result shows lawmakers should work more with digital gaming companies. The group said smarter, team-based rules beat what they called knee-jerk laws driven by wrong information and concerns.

Industry experts point out that Florida’s no vote on the bills matches recent lawmaking trends in other states, with similar plans getting shelved in many jurisdictions. At the same time, states such as New York and Connecticut keep talking about their own anti-sweepstakes rules.For the time being, digital fun platforms in Florida have dodged new limits, and industry backers are toasting the choice as a victory for both new ideas and user freedom.