Florida has become the latest state where anti-sweepstakes legislation failed to pass before the legislative session ended.
It’s been a rocky period for Florida lawmakers overall. The state’s session came to an end on Friday (May 2nd) with no agreement on a new budget (the one thing the legislature must pass every year). Therefore, lawmakers will now reconvene for an extension from May 12th, but only the budget will be on the agenda. All other proposals, including a handful of anti-sweeps bills, are now ‘indefinitely postponed and withdrawn from consideration’.
Sweepstakes Trade Association Celebrates Win
The Social and Promotional Games Association (SPGA) celebrated the win for the sweepstakes industry, citing the failures of Senate Bill 1404 and House Bill 1467.
“These broad anti-sweepstakes bills attempted to criminalize free-to-play digital entertainment, recklessly expand government control over lawful consumer activity, and needlessly restrict business and innovation.”
The SPGA press release continued:
“We urge lawmakers nationwide to collaborate with social sweeps stakeholders on smart, balanced regulation, not political theater that stifles innovation and undermines consumer choice.”
Florida Becomes the Fourth State to Fail
The Sunshine State now joins Arkansas, Maryland, and Mississippi as the fourth state so far in 2025 to fail at passing anti-sweepstakes proposals. SB1404 and HB1467 were two bills that would have effectively banned the sweepstakes vertical in Florida, while introducing other pieces of gambling-related legislation.
For example, SB1404 looked to amend existing law and its definition of ‘internet gambling’ to include “any game in which money or other thing of value is awarded based on chance, regardless of any application of skill, and which is available on the Internet”. This wording was interpreted as including the concept of sweepstakes gaming.
‘Internet gambling’ was then defined as illegal later in the bill for both players (misdemeanor) and operators/promoters (third degree felony). Sports wagering was also targeted by the bill, as it exists in a similar grey area to sweepstakes in Florida.
On top of these two bills, we also saw SB1836, HB1017, and HB953, which held similar aims. The various proposals made varying degrees of progress, but ultimately, none were able to pass the finish line in time.
Sweepstakes detractors are now pinning their hopes on Montana, where similar legislation is only a governor’s signature away from success. Big Sky Country looks set to become the first state to remove sweepstakes operators, while lawmakers in New York, Louisiana, and Connecticut are working to do the same.
As for Florida, it looks like they’ll have to wait till 2026 to try again.
Originally published: May 6th 2025
Author: Joseph Allen
Updated:
