A Florida bill that contains language that could be problematic for online sweepstakes casinos in the state passed through its second committee hurdle on Wednesday.
House Bill 189 tackles a plethora of issues related to the state’s gambling laws. Its primary focus is “on illegal slot machines and unregulated gaming arcades,” the bill’s author, Rep. Dana Trabulsy, told lawmakers on the House Criminal Justice Subcommittee on Wednesday.
However, it also includes a redefinition of “internet gambling” to include “other thing of value” alongside money and “casino-style gaming” — both of which could be interpreted to target Sweeps Coins and casino-style games at sweepstakes casinos.
Although sweepstakes casinos were not once mentioned during Wednesday’s hearing, Trabulsy did summarize the overall intent of the bill during her closing remarks.
“This is really a consumer protection bill,” she said, “as well as cracking down on the bad guys.”
HB189 advanced via a 13-4 vote and will now get slotted for a hearing before the House Commerce Committee. It had previously passed through the House Industries & Professional Activities Subcommittee in November.
Sweeps Coins may fall under scrutiny of HB189
Here is the exact new definition of “internet gambling” that’s part of HB189:
“Internet gambling” means to play or engage in any game in which money or other thing of value is awarded based on chance, regardless of any application of skill, that is available on the Internet and accessible on a mobile device, computer terminal, or other similar access device and simulates casino-style gaming, including, but not limited to, slot machines, video poker, and table games.
(For what it’s worth, HB189 also adds the same “or other thing of value” to the “internet sports wagering” definition, which may potentially cover platforms like sweeps sportsbooks, as well.)
Sweeps casinos operate using a dual-currency gaming ecosystem consisting of Gold Coins and Sweeps Coins. Gold Coins can be purchased but are purely in-game currency. They cannot be redeemed for money and are essentially fake tokens for gameplay.
Sweeps Coins cannot be directly purchased, but they can be redeemed for actual money once a player accumulates a certain amount.
That fact is among the reasons lawmakers in states such as California and New York have banned Sweeps Coin gameplay, arguing that playing casino-style games with a currency that can be redeemed for money is too comparable to real-money online gambling. Sweeps operators have consistently countered, saying Sweeps Coin gameplay is not at all the same as real-money iGaming because players never have to spend a dime to get Sweeps Coins — as they can acquire free Sweeps Coins via things like daily login bonuses or other alternative modes of entry (AMOE).
For that reason, the bills in California and New York and others in 2025, and also bills so far this year in states such as Maine and Indiana, specifically call out sweepstakes games that use a “dual-currency” model to prevent the Gold Coin/Sweeps Coin setup.
Florida’s bill, however, is more vague — which could be a good thing and a bad thing for sweeps operators. Good, as in they could perhaps argue the language in HB189 doesn’t apply to them. Bad, as in opposing lawyers could argue the exact opposite.
No mention of sweeps gaming on Wednesday
But, again, nothing regarding the “internet gambling” definition or any of its implications were discussed on Wednesday. As this was a hearing before the House Criminal Justice Subcommittee, testimony and committee questions centered exclusively on illegal gaming devices and avoiding potential unplanned consequences of non-profits or veterans organizations like VFWs, American Legions, or Moose Lodges getting saddled with felony arrests for unintentionally operating an unauthorized gaming machine.
Other elements of HB189 went undiscussed, as well, including provisions that authorize the operation of daily fantasy sports contests in Florida. In fact, basically every element of the 98-page bill went undiscussed other than the illegal gambling machines components.
Another bill filed in Florida, House Bill 591, is also an expansive gambling bill that includes the same updated definition of “internet gambling.” That bill had its first reading on Tuesday currently sits with the House Industries & Professional Activities Subcommittee.
Across the United States, five other states have introduced 2026 bills that directly outlaw sweeps casinos, either as a standalone bill or part of a broader bill: Maine, Indiana, Mississippi, Virginia and Maryland.
On the flipside, a lawmaker in New Jersey this week filed a bill that would tax and regulate sweeps casinos, and a lawmaker in Indiana has presented an amendment to the state’s sweeps ban bill that would do the same.
