Proposed Florida Legislation Prevents State Gaming Commission Employees from Participating in Sports Betting Companies
Let's Dish: Florida Republicans have cooked up a fresh bill, House Bill 1467, to prevent state gambling regulators from flipping sides and hitching a ride with industry operators for a whopping two years!
Remember Louis Trombetta, the swashbuckling Executive Director of the newly-formed Gaming Control Commission? Well, he decided to walk the plank in March 2022, only to reappear as FanDuel's Director of Government Relations a month after submitting his resignation in December 2024. Sounds fishy, right? Some folks are scratching their heads, wondering why Trombetta issued cease and desist letters to BetRivers, Underdog, and PrizePicks, but kept his hands clean when it came to FanDuel or DraftKings.
This new bill aims to put an end to such shenanigans by explicitly banning state gambling regulators from hopping on the DFS operator bandwagon for two years post their departure.
But that's not all! The proposed legislation also intends to formally regulate DFS, with John Snyder, one of the authors, stressing the importance of letting a regulator make some significant industry decisions before sitting on the bench for a bit before jumping ship to an operator.
FanDuel, in response, has issued a statement, pointing out that the Florida Gaming Commission doesn't call the shots when it comes to the operator, as DFS is categorized as a game of skill rather than chance in the state.
This two-year employment prohibition is part of a broader strategy to combat illegal gambling, including strict penalties for trafficking slot machines or transporting individuals for unauthorized gambling. The DFS provisions are designed to formalize the industry under state oversight, while deterring misconduct through financial consequences.
Of course, this bill isn't just about slapping a band-aid on conflicts of interest; it's about ensuring that state regulators can't leverage their positions for future employment opportunities and maintain impartial oversight over the industry. It also mandates compliance with specific operational standards, imposing penalties on operators violating rules, and preempting local regulation to reserve authority over gaming activities for the state.
- The new bill, House Bill 1467, is designed to prevent Florida gambling regulators from working for DFS operators like FanDuel for two years after leaving their posts.
- John Snyder, one of the bill's authors, emphasizes the need for regulators to make significant industry decisions before moving to operator roles.
- FanDuel, in response to the bill, emphasizes that the Florida Gaming Commission has no jurisdiction over the operator, as DFS is considered a game of skill rather than chance in the state.
- The two-year employment prohibition is part of a broader strategy to combat illegal gambling in Florida and formalize the DFS industry under state oversight.
- The bill also includes mandates for compliance with specific operational standards, penalties for operators violating rules, and preemption of local regulations to give the state exclusive authority over gaming activities.
