A bill (HB 881) sponsored by Republican Rep. Adam Anderson has passed the Florida House, aiming to decouple thoroughbred horse racing from other gambling activities and level the playing field among pari-mutuel venues. The measure would allow tracks like Gulfstream Park and Tampa Bay Downs to continue casino operations without mandating live horse racing, with a delayed timeline for suspending races to protect the industry in the short term. Supporters argue this “decoupling” makes gambling activities independent and provides flexibility to horse racing venues.

However, the bill faces opposition from the thoroughbred racing industry, which fears it could lead to the decline of horse racing in Florida—a sector with a $3.24 billion economic impact and over 33,000 jobs. The Senate has yet to act on a companion bill (SB 1564), and Governor Ron DeSantis has expressed concerns that the legislation could harm the industry, despite having signed a related decoupling law in 2021. The bill’s ultimate fate remains uncertain as it awaits Senate consideration and potential gubernatorial approval.