Chavdar Vasilev is a journalist covering the casino and sports betting market sectors for CasinoBeats. He joined CasinoBeats in May 2025 and reports on industry-shaping stories across the US and beyond, including legislative debates, market...
Read Full BioThe Florida Gaming Control Commission (FGCC) has appointed Alana Zimmer as its new Executive Director. This leadership change comes as the agency intensifies enforcement actions against the spread of illegal gaming arcades across the state.
Zimmer, a former Kansas Lottery commissioner, officially assumed her post on October 30, 2025
New Face for Florida’s Gaming Regulator
In a news release, FGCC Vice Chair Julie Imanuel Brown described Zimmer as an “outstanding leader” who will “work hard to eliminate illegal gambling and support Florida citizens and businesses.”
Zimmer said her prior experience, including “modernizing the Kansas Lottery and expanding responsible gaming initiatives,” would translate directly to her new role. “I look forward to working closely with the Governor and Legislature on improving and expanding responsible gaming in Florida,” she added.
Zimmer most recently worked as the Executive Director of the Kansas City Automotive Museum. She has also served as a Kansas Lottery Commissioner from 2016 until 2019.
Enforcement Efforts Escalate
Zimmer’s arrival coincides with an active enforcement period for the FGCC and local authorities. In recent months, the agency has led multiple raids across the state. Some examples include Cape Coral and Fort Myers in Lee County, Pasco County, St. Petersburg, Okeechobee, DeLand, Tallahassee, and Daytona Beach.
These raids have uncovered hundreds of illegal gaming machines. They have resulted in the seizure of hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash.
For example, in a Cape Coral bust in August, FGCC and the Cape Coral police seized 428 illegal gambling machines and over $540,000 in cash from six arcades and one resident. In October, they confiscated 139 machines and $176,000 from two other arcades. Similar actions elsewhere show the same pattern: operators reopening under new names within weeks of a raid, often at the same address.
Challenges Ahead for FGCC
Despite the surge in raids, the FGCC faces challenges that make long-term enforcement difficult.
That’s because operators of these illegal gaming parlors face low risks. That includes low licensing fees and weak penalties, which makes operating these arcades highly lucrative. One attorney called it a “low-risk, high-profit enterprise.” Even if the FGCC shuts down an illegal parlor, often the owner reopens elsewhere.
The enforcement cycle is likened to a game of “whac-a-mole,” as new operators emerge more quickly than cases can be prosecuted. Even after multiple high-profile raids, the broader ecosystem of unregulated gambling machines has continued to grow. That’s especially in areas with high foot traffic and lax zoning oversight.
That’s why the regulator wants harsher penalties. Two bills in 2024 attempted to address the issue, but they failed to gain traction. FGCC says it plans to advocate for changes during the next legislative session. That includes making such offenses a felony instead of a misdemeanor.
The Commission has reiterated that slot machines are only legal at eight licensed pari-mutuel facilities in Miami-Dade and Broward counties, as well as at designated Seminole Tribe properties. Any slot-style or sweepstakes gambling offered elsewhere remains illegal under state law.
