Florida Attorney General Calls for Felony Charges on Illegal Gambling

^{James Uthmeier, Florida’s Attorney General, posted a social media video on Monday urging for illegal gambling to be treated as a felony. (Photo: Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel via Alamy Live News)}

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier has called on lawmakers to support legislation that would make running an illegal gambling operation a felony offense, arguing that stronger punishments are needed to curtail organized crime.

Uthmeier’s comments come as a bill that would strengthen these penalties and regulate daily fantasy sports games is working its way through the Florida legislature.

Current Penalties ‘A Slap on the Wrist,’ Uthmeier Says

Currently, most crimes related to illegal gambling are classified as misdemeanors. A new bill, sponsored by Florida Representative Dana Trabulsy (R-Fort Pierce) would make these crimes into felonies, and would do the same for crimes related to the integrity of sporting events, such as match fixing or placing wagers on events that an individual knows are being manipulated.

“Right now, people can stand to make millions off of unlawful gambling operations and just end up with a slap on the wrist, a misdemeanor,” Uthmeier said in the video. “This is not enough of a deterrent to stop this illegal behavior.”

Uthmeier also pointed out that illegal gambling can be tied to other serious crimes, and that law enforcement has recently shut down several such operations.

“Here in Florida, we take unlawful gambling seriously. Not only does it violate our state’s rule of law and put our consumers at risk, but it often also breeds other illicit acts like human and drug trafficking, money laundering, and racketeering,” Uthmeier said. “Over the last year, we’ve taken down numerous large scale gambling operations that have spanned in the tens of millions of dollars. A heightened penalty will give us in law enforcement the tools to hold these wrongdoers accountable.”

Seminole Tribe Also Calls for Illegal Gambling Crackdown

It's not just law enforcement officials in Florida who are calling for stronger enforcement of gaming laws. In September, the Seminole Tribe of Florida – which owns casinos throughout Florida thanks to its compact with the state – called for a crackdown on slots parlors and so-called “gaming arcades” that offer slots-like games, which the tribe has the exclusive right to offer.

“Regardless of the term, they are all unlawful gambling operations, and they are a threat to everyone – not just the unsuspecting customers whom they attract,” the tribe said in a statement. “They are often venues for illegal drugs and even violent criminal activity, caused by thugs who take advantage of their lax security and infrequent police patrol to victimize customers.”

That statement – which also noted that police often don’t have the resources to permanently close these illegal operations – followed a series of raids in August and September against such venues.

Recent sports betting scandals likely also contributed to aspects of Trabulsy’s bill. Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups and Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier were among 34 people arrested in a wide-ranging federal gambling investigation that involved organized crime in October, while Cleveland Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz have been indicted for allegedly conspiring to intentionally throw balls in order to help gamblers win prop bets.