SB 1580 Florida Senate · 2026 Regular Session

Illegal Gaming

Summary

Illegal Gaming; Repealing a provision relating to penalties and violations related to illegal gambling; authorizing a person who is ineligible for employment with the commission to submit a waiver request to the commission asking to be considered eligible for employment if the person possesses certain expertise or experience; revising the standards of conduct for current and former commissioners and employees of the commission; authorizing a slot machine licensee to apply to the commission to change the location of its designated slot machine gaming area under certain circumstances; providing criminal penalties for persons who stake, bet, or wager any money or other thing of value upon the result of certain games, contests, matches, races, or sports if such persons have knowledge that the outcome of the games, contests, matches, races, or sports is prearranged or predetermined; revising the criminal penalties for persons who rent or lease a house for gambling purposes, etc.

Bill status died 4 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Mar 2026

Senate Passage

Mar 2026

House Passage

Mar 2026

Governor

Introduced Jan 22, 2026 Last action Mar 13, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

S 1580 c1 → S 1580 c2 · 7 edits

MODERATE

This bill significantly expands Florida's illegal gaming laws by creating new criminal offenses for government employees who facilitate gambling houses, establishing a program to allow the surrender of illegal slot machines without penalty, and updating sentencing guidelines to treat gambling-related crimes more severely. It also clarifies rules for slot machine location changes and provides a process for veterans' organizations to seek legal clarity on game machines before purchasing them.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope of criminal liability to include government employees who knowingly aid in gambling operations and creates a new administrative program for the surrender of illegal gaming devices.

ENFORCEMENT

New criminal penalties for government employees who knowingly certify, license, or facilitate the operation of a gambling house.

Creation of a 'Limited Slot Machine Surrender Program' allowing individuals to surrender illegal gaming devices without fear of criminal prosecution.

REQUIREMENT

Slot machine licensees can now apply to change the location of their designated gaming area under specific conditions, such as remaining within the same county and being within 1,320 feet of the original boundary.

Veterans' service organizations can now petition the commission for a declaratory statement on whether a game or machine is legal before purchasing or installing it.

Revised standards of conduct for Gaming Control Commission commissioners and employees to include stricter prohibitions on accepting gifts from regulated entities and lobbying activities.

ELIGIBILITY

Ineligible employees of the Gaming Control Commission may request a waiver to be considered for employment if they possess specific expertise in pari-mutuel wagering, cardrooms, or slot machine operations.

DEFINITION

Updated the Criminal Punishment Code to reclassify various gambling offenses to higher severity levels and added new felony definitions for trafficking in slot machines.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 6, 2026 · House Mar 11, 2026

How they voted

35–0

Passed · 5 other

Total votes 40

Mar 6, 2026

D Democratic11

8 Yea 3

72% Yea

I Independent1

1 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican28

26 Yea 2

92% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Mar 11, 2026

Lower · Passed

CS passed as amended; YEAS 82, NAYS 31

lower

Mar 11, 2026

Lower · Passed

Amendment 409731 adopted

lower

Mar 10, 2026

Committee

Bill referred to House Calendar

lower

Mar 6, 2026

Upper · Passed

CS passed; YEAS 34 NAYS 0

upper

Mar 4, 2026

Upper · Passed

Pending reference review -under Rule 4.7(2) - (Committee Substitute)

upper

Feb 26, 2026

Upper · Passed

On Committee agenda-- Rules, 03/03/26, 9:00 am, 412 Knott Building

upper

Feb 25, 2026

Upper · Passed

Favorable by Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government; YEAS 8 NAYS 0

upper

Feb 20, 2026

Upper · Passed

On Committee agenda-- Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government, 02/25/26, 1:30 pm, 412 Knott Building

upper

Feb 12, 2026

Upper · Passed

Now in Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government

upper

Feb 12, 2026

Upper · Passed

Remaining references corrected to Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government; Rules

upper

Feb 12, 2026

Upper · Passed

Pending reference review under Rule 4.7(2) - (Committee Substitute)

upper

Feb 5, 2026

Upper · Passed

On Committee agenda-- Regulated Industries, 02/10/26, 12:00 pm, 412 Knott Building

upper

Jan 22, 2026

Introduced

upper

Jan 16, 2026

Committee

Referred to Regulated Industries; Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government; Fiscal Policy

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors