Budget Standoff: Florida Lawmakers Clash Over Gaming Commission Funding

Florida’s House and Senate are divided over how much to allocate to the Florida Gaming Control Commission, with a notable $5.49 million discrepancy in their proposed budgets. The key point of contention revolves around funding for gambling enforcement and licengrades, an issue heightened by increasing illegal gaming activity in the state.

Licensing System Funds at Center of Dispute

The Senate’s Gaming Control Commission. In contrast, the House’s most recent offer caps funding at $31.6 million. A large portion of the difference—$4.7 million—is tied to the Senate’s initiative to enhance the commission’s licensing and enforcement systems. The House, so far, has not included any money for this upgrade.

Other budget line items reflect further differences in priorities. For example, the House wants to eliminate nearly $245,000 by cutting agency staff positions that have remained unfilled for more than 90 days. The Senate also suggests reducing vacancies but would save only about $61,000 under its plan.

In addition, the House proposes to slash another $315,000 from various agency services. The Senate, in contrast, seeks to bolster the commission’s law enforcement capacity by injecting roughly $149,000 for staffing .

Commission Pushes for Stronger Enforcement Resources

The funding proposals are being reviewed after calls from the Florida Gaming Control Commission for additional financial . Officials from the commission, alongside prosecutors and law enforcement officers, appeared before the House Industries and Professional Activities Subcommittee in January. They expressed frustration with current gambling laws, arguing they lack the teeth to deter illegal operations.

“There’s only so much money to go around. If a dollar does not go to a licensed facility or a tribal facility, it’s going into a criminal’s pocket. It’s as simple as that,” said Ross Marshman, acting Executive Director of the Gaming Control Commission.

This plea for stronger oversight comes amid an uptick in enforcement activity. The commission has played a central role in multi-agency crackdowns this year, targeting illegal gambling rings across Florida. In May, law enforcement executed coordinated raids in several cities including Daytona Beach, DeLand, Dade City, and Okeechobee, dismantling nearly a dozen unauthorized gambling operations.

Ongoing Negotiations May Shape Enforcement Future

As legislators continue hashing out the state’s spending plan, the gap between the House and Senate on funding for gambling oversight remains unresolved. The outcome could significantly impact how effectively the state combats illicit gambling activities in the months ahead.

The debate over funding levels is more than a bureaucratic disagreement—it reflects broader concerns about whether the state is equipped to curb illegal wagering and modernize its regulatory infrastructure in a rapidly evolving gaming landscape.

Source:

“Budget conference: House and Senate split on funding for Gaming Control Commission”, floridapolitics.com Jun 3, 2025