House Bill 753 amends various sections of the Florida Statutes to modernize the operation and regulation of the state lottery. Key changes include the removal of the requirement for the Governor to set the Secretary of the Department of the Lottery's compensation annually, the introduction of new definitions such as "ball machine," "courier service," and "debit card," and the enhancement of the operational framework. The bill increases the bond amount for lottery retailers from twice to three times the average lottery ticket sales and allows them to remit funds to the department instead of maintaining a bond. Additionally, it permits the use of debit cards for purchasing lottery tickets and authorizes the department to act as a courier service, establishing rules for these operations.

The bill also implements security measures for lottery operations, including the requirement for courier services to maintain a secure database of stored lottery tickets and to provide specific notice for winning tickets. It establishes penalties for prohibited acts such as false claims and theft of lottery tickets, clarifies age restrictions for ticket purchases, and allows certain department employees to buy tickets for official duties. Furthermore, it emphasizes the responsibility of ticket purchasers to verify their tickets' accuracy and limits liability for errors. Overall, these amendments aim to enhance transparency, security, and accessibility within Florida's lottery system, with the act set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
H 753 Filed: 20.317, 24.113, 24.119, 24.120, 24.1215, 24.124