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The Florida Senate

2013 Florida Statutes

SECTION 01
Keeping gambling houses, etc.
F.S. 849.01
1849.01 Keeping gambling houses, etc.Whoever by herself or himself, her or his servant, clerk or agent, or in any other manner has, keeps, exercises or maintains a gaming table or room, or gaming implements or apparatus, or house, booth, tent, shelter or other place for the purpose of gaming or gambling or in any place of which she or he may directly or indirectly have charge, control or management, either exclusively or with others, procures, suffers or permits any person to play for money or other valuable thing at any game whatever, whether heretofore prohibited or not, shall be guilty of a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.
History.s. 1, ch. 3764, 1887; RS 2644; GS 3572; RGS 5499; CGL 7657; s. 1059, ch. 71-136; s. 1355, ch. 97-102.
1Note.Section 1, ch. 2013-2, provides that:

“Findings and declarations of necessity.

“(1) The Legislature declares that s. 849.01, Florida Statutes, specifically prohibits the keeping or maintaining of a place for the purpose of gambling or gaming.

“(2) The Legislature finds that s. 849.0935, Florida Statutes, was enacted to allow specified charitable or nonprofit organizations the opportunity to raise funds to carry out their charitable or nonprofit purpose by conducting a raffle for prizes by eliminating the element of monetary consideration and allowing the receipt of voluntary donations or contributions and was not intended to provide a vehicle for the establishment of places of gambling or gaming.

“(3) The Legislature finds that s. 849.094, Florida Statutes, was enacted to regulate certain game promotions or sweepstakes conducted by for-profit commercial entities on a limited and occasional basis as an advertising and marketing tool and incidental to substantial bona fide sales of consumer products or services, if the element of consideration is removed as no purchase necessary and they comply with the requirements and rules specified by law, and was not intended to provide a vehicle for the establishment of places of ongoing gambling or gaming.

“(4) The Legislature finds that s. 849.161, Florida Statutes, was enacted to regulate the operation of skill-based arcade games offered at specified arcade amusement centers and truck stops if they comply with the requirements of law and was not provided as a vehicle for the conduct of casino-style gambling.

“(5) Therefore, the Legislature finds that there is a compelling state interest in clarifying the operation and use of ss. 849.0935, 849.094, and 849.161, Florida Statutes, to ensure that a charitable drawing by chance, game promotion in connection with the sale of a consumer product or service, and arcade amusement games are not subject to abuse or interpreted in any manner as creating an exception to Florida’s general prohibitions against gambling.”