Florida is now the fourth state to reject legislation in the United States this year regarding anti-sweepstakes gaming policies.
Senate Bill 1404 and House Bill 1467 did not advance during the current legislative session, which ended May 2. Both would have banned online sweepstakes casinos in Florida.
The Social and Promotional Games Association (SPGA) has noted their failure as a significant development for consumers and businesses involved in digital entertainment and promotional campaigns. The SPGA has previously aired concerns with bills in other states about the potential for a broader impact on legitimate marketing strategies and consumer engagement tools if these types of bans are enacted.
‘Anti-innovation, anti-business efforts’
By declining to move the bills forward, Florida joins Arkansas, Maryland, and Mississippi, three other states that recently rejected similar proposals.
“Lawmakers across the country are rejecting these anti-innovation, anti-business efforts that attempt to dictate what games American adults can play on their phones,” a spokesperson for the SPGA said in a release.
The association views this outcome as part of a broader pattern in which states are more cautious when considering new regulations related to digital gaming and sweepstakes activities.
So far, one state — Montana — has passed a sweeps ban bill this legislative session.
SPGA: This was the right move for Florida
The SPGA was worried that the proposed bills would harm sweepstakes platforms and affect everyday business practices in the retail, hospitality, and entertainment industries.
It pointed out that the restrictions might affect common marketing tools like loyalty programs and promotional giveaways, which companies like McDonalds, Starbucks, and Marriott often use. (The sponsor of Louisiana’s sweeps ban bill has denied his bill would do that, and New York recently added an amendment to one of its sweeps ban bills that attempts to address that concern.)
The SPGA also mentioned Florida’s potential budget problems caused by eliminating legitimate economic activity. The legislation could have deprived the state of tens of millions of dollars in revenue, the SPGA said, at a time when the state budget deficit is projected to reach $7 billion in the next three years.
‘This is a huge win’
After the bills failed to move forward, the SPGA said it will focus on maintaining access to digital sweepstakes and related promotional tools.
“This is a huge win, not just for the industry, but for every Floridian who values economic freedom and digital innovation,” the SPGA spokesperson said. “Once again, a state has seen through the scare tactics and rejected legislation that would have harmed consumers, businesses, and Florida’s economy.
“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 Gov. Ron DeSantis has the authority to extend the legislative session. However, there has been no indication of immediate plans to do so.
