On Wednesday, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed HB 5203 into law, which deals with property seized by the Florida Gaming Control Commission (FGCC).
The new law gives FGCC the power to retain “any machine, apparatus or device” and “all money and other things of value” if its agents seize such contraband as part of an investigation.
FGCC can then sell these seized assets and transfer any proceeds to its Pari-Mutuel Wagering Trust Fund, which funds FGCC’s operations.
The commission’s Pari-Mutuel Wagering division is responsible for regulating Florida’s cardroom, slot gaming, and pari-mutuel industries. This division is also in charge of collecting and securing all state revenues associated with these industries.
Florida’s legislative leaders have also recently explored the possibility of utilizing gambling revenue to finance the expansion of a state wildlife corridor and other environmental initiatives.
