Florida lawmakers are making another attempt to criminalize wagering on sports with insider information as two major pro sports leagues deal with gambling scandals.
Rep. Dana Trabulsy introduced House Bill 189, a piece of legislation that proposes gambling reform in Florida related to criminal penalties for hosting illegal card and slot machine gambling and wagering on sports involving bribes or with insider information.
“This may create a positive fiscal impact to local governmental entities that receive proceeds from the related fines,” reads the House’s bill analysis. “This may also create a negative fiscal impact to those entities relating to administration of enforcement.”
Among other things, the bill also proposes authorizing certain daily fantasy sports contests in Florida.
Prison time on the table for violating HB 189
Under HB 189, it would be a third-degree felony for a person to wager, bet or stake money or anything of value on an amateur or professional sports contest if the person has “knowledge that the results of such professional or amateur game, contest, match, race or sport are prearranged or predetermined.”
In Florida, a third-degree felony carries a maximum sentence of up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $5,000.
The penalties for violating HB 189’s bribery rule would extend to players, coaches, officials and their relatives.
HB 189 was referred to the House Industries & Professional Activities Subcommittee before being referred to the Criminal Justice Subcommittee and then the Commerce Committee. The bill will be discussed by the Industries & Professional Activities Subcommittee on Nov. 18.
Similar legislation was previously considered in Florida
Earlier this year, Florida lawmakers were exposed to several pieces of legislation that aimed to curtail gambling that involved the use of insider information or bribes.
Rep. John Snyder introduced House Bill 1467, which proposed a myriad of changes to Florida’s gaming rules, including making the bribery of athletes and officials or people with a possible connection to a team or a game a third-degree felony. The measure, which failed to progress, also made it a third-degree felony to use insider information to place wagers.
Sen. Corey Simon proposed Senate Bill 1404, which included similar language related to bribes and insider information. The bill also died during the legislative process.
MLB & NBA face gambling scandals
Florida lawmakers are considering HB 189 amid new controversies for the NBA and MLB.
Cleveland Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz are charged with wire fraud conspiracy, conspiracy to influence sporting contests by bribery and money laundering conspiracy over allegations that they rigged pitches during games and received kickbacks.
The pitchers, who each face significant prison time, allegedly worked with co-conspirators over two years to rig specific pitches for bets. Allegations included Clase and Ortiz providing their own money for illicit wagers and predetermining pitches for over 100 single and parlay wagers to be placed. The alleged scheme allowed the co-conspirators to win more than $300,000.
MLB responded on Monday by announcing that its authorized operators will no longer accept wagers of more than $200 on pitch-level markets in all regulated U.S. markets.
MLB’s scandal comes after Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups, Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier and former Cleveland Cavaliers guard Damon Jones were indicted for their alleged involvement in rigged poker games and illegal sports betting.
Billups, a five-time NBA All-Star, was arrested for his supposed involvement in an illegal poker operation allegedly backed by the Italian Mafia, while Rozier allegedly provided insider information to co-conspirators and manipulated his own gameplay. Jones is tied to both alleged scandals.
