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Lawmakers in Florida are looking to tighten the rules around lottery fraud in their state. A new bill filed in the state is aiming to crack down on both counterfeit ticket claims and retailer theft, as reports of scams continue to surface around the country.
Florida targets rising fraud with tougher penalties
On Monday, November 17, 2025, Sen. Corey Simon filed the bill. This new bill would make it a third-degree felony for people who present fake lottery tickets, submit falsified claims to the Florida Lottery, or use forged documents to collect prize money.
Anyone who is convicted under this proposed law could face up to five years in prison or a $5,000 fine.
The bill from Simon also addresses a second growing concern: lottery retailers or employees who steal lottery tickets.
Under this new legislation, store employees would be prohibited from using their position to take lottery tickets from customers or from the store itself. Violators would face the same felony penalties that were mentioned above.
This new proposal comes at a time when Florida continues to be one of the biggest state lotteries in the country. Scams tied to high jackpots and increasing ticket sales are gaining more attention from regulators.
Other states have already taken action
Florida isn’t alone in trying to get ahead of lottery fraud. Several states have passed or strengthened similar laws as digital lottery play grows and the big jackpots spark excitement.
In New York, lawmakers toughened penalties after a series of cases in which retailers stole winning tickets from unsuspecting customers. California has increased enforcement efforts, including undercover stings to catch clerks attempting to pocket winning scratch-offs. South Carolina recently charged a convenience store employee accused of cashing in stolen scratch-offs, showing that the issue isn’t isolated.
We have also seen an increase in counterfeit ticket attempts in Pennsylvania and Ohio, which has prompted local law enforcement officials to work more closely with their state lotteries. This all reflects a national trend: regulators and legislatures are pushing to protect public trust as lotteries become not only more technologically advanced, but also promoted more across digital platforms.
A response to recent scams
This new bill in Florida comes after several high-profile incidents have taken place across the country, which have put a spotlight on fraud at both the player and retailer levels.
A man in South Carolina used a multi-store approach when stealing and turning in winning lottery tickets in South Carolina.
Meanwhile, officials in Iowa recently cracked open a lottery ticket theft operation. The charges showed over 500 tickets being stolen, with over $1,600 in profits.
In Florida, a city employee was charged with helping someone cash a lottery ticket to avoid having to pay those winnings to back child support they owed. In Alabama, despite not having a state lottery, it still ranked 10th in lottery scams in the country.
Experts say bigger jackpot sizes are partly responsible for the problem. We are seeing more billion-dollar draws, which is helping to sell tickets at a record pace. However, this creates opportunities for fraud to grow alongside consumer excitement. Since there is even more money on the line, states are working on ways to help protect both players and lottery retailers.
What’s next in Florida
With the bill now being introduced by Sen. Simon, it will go to committee review during this upcoming legislative session. If approved, the tougher penalties could take effect as early as 2026. This would give Florida one more tool to make sure lottery scams don’t pay.
Supporters of the bill say it sends a clear message: whether it’s a counterfeit ticket worth thousands or a stolen scratch-off worth only a few dollars, fraud threatens the fairness of the game. And Florida, they argue, isn’t willing to take that gamble.
Enjoy playing the Florida Lottery, and please remember to play responsibly.
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