'I do not want to put any of my colleagues in the position of voting on any illegal activity or sanctioning it as well,' Dennis wrote to Teal, as per the cited source.įor years now, Jacksonville and the State of Florida have wrestled with how to regulate establishments that utilize devices resembling casino-style games. In response, City Council member Garrett Dennis, who filed the legislation, now said he will defer the proposal until the office of General Counsel Jason Teal tells him whether or not the bill contains illegal gambling. In a letter sent to city officials and retrieved by Florida Times-Union, commissioners said that should Jacksonville allow the return of the electronic games, having previously shut them down in 2019, it could conflict with the state law banning slots in most of the state. These establishments, which feature casino-style electronic games, could run afoul of the state’s prohibition on slot machines in Duval County.

The Florida Gaming Control Commission has issued a warning that a proposal to legalize “adult arcades” in Jacksonville could be illegal.