Florida's gambling watchdog touts success against illegal gambling in 2025

• FGCC recaps efforts against illegal gambling, as it vows to maintain pressure in 2026
• The regulator was able to confiscate $14m in illegal gambling money and seize 6,725 slot machines
• Florida is also targeting online gambling operators, issuing cease-and-desist letters

The Florida Gaming Control Commission (FGCC) has closed the year by reviewing its efforts to curb illegal gambling across the state.

Florida has seen a surge in unlicensed gambling operations, prompting the regulator and law enforcement to intensify their crackdown on these venues.

FGCC summarizes the year of fighting illegal gambling

According to the watchdog, and data released earlier this week, the regulator has been able to confiscate more than $14m from illegal gambling venues while also seizing 6,725 slot machines, a significant step-up from last year.

Based on the same press release, Florida only confiscated $7m worth of funds and seized 1,287 slot machines, pointing to an increased activity from the watchdog and law enforcement.

Gambling machines remain restricted to specific locations in the state, including venues run by the Seminole Tribe of Florida as well as licensed pari-mutuel facilities in Miami-Dade and Broward counties.

The FGCC has collaborated with numerous law enforcement agencies and regulators, including the Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, the Internal Revenue Service, and others.

In early December, the regulator, assisted by law enforcement agencies, conducted "Operation Funny Money" across three locations in Northeast Florida, leading to 23 fish tables and 230 slot machines confiscated, and several arrests.

Land-based and online illegal operators targeted

The raids are the gold standard that investigators now use to take down illegal gambling venues, with investigators deployed ahead of time to observe whether an avenue is indeed a front for an illegal gambling parlor.

Apart from going after land-based venues, the FGCC has also sought to turf out online sports betting operators, which it deems illegal. Earlier this year, the regulator sent cease-and-desist letters to several such entities: BetUS (Milvus Ltc), Bovada (Harp Media B.V.), and MyBookie (Gaming Services Provider, N.V.).

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