A bill would make it more difficult for many locations to host slot machines and other games
Lawmakers in the Florida Senate advanced a bill on Wednesday to target illegal gambling activity. The sweeping legislative push seeks to raise the stakes for illegal gambling offenders by increasing the criminal penalties for such activity.
State Senator John Martin sponsored Senate Bill 1046 to restrict the use of unlicensed slot machines throughout the state. Under the terms of the bill, running an illegal gambling operation will be reclassified from a second-degree misdemeanor to a third-degree felony, with penalties of up to five years in prison and a $5,000 fine.
The bill also specifies that repeat offenders can anticipate even harsher penalties. A second offense would be classified as a second-degree felony, and three or more offenses would escalate to a first-degree felony.
SB 1046 gained support in the Senate, with 31 of the 40 chamber members voting to advance it to the House of Representatives.
Several amendments to the bill were requested by House lawmakers, who are uneasy over the law’s original harshness. Many cited the dilemma of people wrongly entangled in legal problems by the law and the potential employment and financial issues due to defendants being required to disclose felony arrests, regardless of the outcome of their legal proceedings.
Martin and his colleagues responded by conceding to embedding a mechanism to mitigate unnecessary harm, a law enforcement-issued cease-and-desist letter that would serve as a precursor to felony charges. This protection is aimed at individuals who may unwittingly operate illegally, guaranteeing that knowledge and intent are essential factors before strenuous legal consequences can occur.
“The goal is not to throw people in prison who are not knowingly committing crimes,” said Martin, highlighting the bill’s balance between penalizing intentional misconduct and protecting the uninformed from major legal issues.

Emma Rodriguez is the Proofreader at the Big Blind, with seven years of experience and five years in online gambling. She plays a crucial role in maintaining content quality by ensuring error-free, reader-friendly information about the gambling industry.