The Florida State Constitution contains just one requirement for the State Legislature: a budget. After failing to do so during the 2025 legislative session that ended May 2, lawmakers extended the session until June 6.
Again, with no agreement on a budget, the session was extended a second time, until June 18.
One of the contentious issues that remains is how much to fund the Florida Gaming Control Commission. Bills in the Florida House and Senate are still around $5 million apart.
Other proposed cuts include staff reduction
The Florida Gaming Control Commission (FGCC) is the regulatory body that oversees and enforces gambling activities in the Sunshine State, including Florida sports betting. The agency is somewhat dependent on the budget to fund its ability to enforce gambling laws across the state.
It’s been a busy year for the FGCC so far, having busted up a number of illegal gambling operations, including 10 in DeLand, Daytona Beach, Dade City, and Okeechobee. These busts netted over 100 illegal slot machines and more than $60,000 in cash, as well as several drug offenses.
Currently, the Senate’s budget proposal would be more beneficial to the FGCC, as it calls for $37.09 million in funding for the agency. The House version would give $31.6 million to the GCC.
The House is also eyeing staffing cuts to the commission, proposing $245,000 in payroll reductions, by eliminating positions that have remained unfilled for 90 days. The Senate’s staffing cuts would only net around $61,000 in savings. The House also proposes other cuts, adding up to $315,000, according to Florida Politics. The Senate wants to add close to $150,000 to help staff continue their law enforcement mission.
Keep in mind, the FGCC has collected millions of dollars in forfeitures from illegal gaming operations over the last fiscal year and tens of millions from gaming activities in the state, including money from casinos.
FGCC seeks stronger anti-gambling laws
Once an approved budget is sent to the governor’s desk, Gov. Ron DeSantis has until July 1 to sign it into law.
Earlier in the process, the FGCC sent an array of officials to Tallahassee, along with prosecutors and state law enforcement, to testify before the House Industries and Professional Activities Subcommittee against the gambling laws currently on the books.
From their viewpoint, the current measures do not do enough to deter illegal gambling.
