Florida Gaming Control Commission (FGCC) officials are touting the agency’s crackdown on illegal gambling in the state in 2025 that more than doubled the amount of seized illegal gaming funds and slot machines that were nabbed in 2024.
The FGCC recapped its 2025 operations and confiscated some $14.47 million in illegal gambling funds and another 6,725 illegal slot machines from illegal gambling operations, according to a news release issued by the agency. Those figures are up significantly from 2024 figures.
In that previous year, theree were 1,287 illegal slot machines that were confiscated by state gambling regulators and some $7.11 million in cash associated with those illegal gambling operations that were seized.
FGCC Executive Director Alana Zimmer said the increased number of crackdowns is the result of increased vigilance in Florida. She said the state’s interventions are interrupting illegal gambling outfits that have no assurance of fair play, accurate payouts or basic consumer protections. Those illegal gaming operations also don’t pay appropriate taxes which deprives that state and local cities and counties the revenues they deserve.
“I thank Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Florida Legislature for their ongoing support of the Florida Gaming Control Commission,” said Zimmer. “Their actions strengthen Florida’s gambling laws and help protect our communities. FGCC has been working diligently to halt illegal gambling through enforcement actions across the state, demonstrating the dedication of FGCC’s law enforcement officers.”
In January of 2025 FGCC officials and several law enforcement agencies told state lawmakers they needed more leeway in efforts to deter illegal gaming in the state. Several prosecutors and sheriff’s officials said they felt the state could grant more powers, noting that unlawful gaming operations busted often involved people who returned to bogus operations because state penalties weren’t strong enough, beyond some fines.
Lawmakers eventually passed additional legislation (SB 2500), which DeSantis signed.
There have also been several widely publicized crackdowns on illegal gaming operations throughout 2025 by the FGCC in cooperation with dozens of local law enforcement agencies. Many of those busts came after the FGCC increased the number of partnerships with local, state and federal law enforcement agencies.
