Florida Becomes the Fourth State to Reject Anti-Business, Anti-Consumer Bills Criminalizing Sweepstakes Promotion

WASHINGTON D.C. (MAY 5, 2025) – The Social and Promotional Games Association (SPGA) is celebrating a significant win for consumer choice and common sense as Florida’s Senate Bill 1404 and House Bill 1467 failed to advance, effectively killing both proposals for the 2025 legislative session. 

These broad anti-sweepstakes bills attempted to criminalize free-to-play digital entertainment, recklessly expand government control over lawful consumer activity, and needlessly restrict business and innovation.

“The defeat of these bills continues a clear national trend,” said a spokesperson for the SPGA. “In the past few weeks, similar bills have been rejected in Arkansas, Maryland, and Mississippi.”

“Lawmakers across the country are rejecting these anti-innovation, anti-business efforts that attempt to dictate what games American adults can play on their phones.”

The flawed Florida bills would have:

• Potentially criminalized popular sweepstakes promotions run by major brands such as Marriott, McDonald’s, and Starbucks.
• Exacerbated Florida’s growing multi-billion-dollar budget deficit by eliminating legitimate economic activity
• Created new criminal penalties for Floridians simply for playing games on their phones

While Governor Ron DeSantis retains the authority to extend the session and revive legislation, it’s clear there’s no appetite for these heavy-handed proposals.

The SPGA will remain vigilant, but today, we celebrate the collapse of two more flawed bills built on fear, not facts.

“This is a huge win, not just for the industry, but for every Floridian who values economic freedom and digital innovation,” said the SPGA spokesperson. “Once again, a state has seen through the scare tactics and rejected legislation that would have harmed consumers, businesses, and Florida’s economy.”

We urge lawmakers nationwide to collaborate with social sweeps stakeholders on smart, balanced regulation, not political theater that stifles innovation and undermines consumer choice.