The Florida Gaming Control Commission (FGCC) has received the 2026 Regulatory Excellence Award from the International Association of Gaming Regulators (IAGR) for its efforts to combat illegal gambling.
The award recognises a gambling regulator that demonstrates excellence in gaming policy, regulation, compliance, and enforcement.
IAGR CEO Kevin Mullally said the commission’s coordinated approach to tackling illegal gambling had produced impressive results through collaboration. “Its strategy illustrates the power of collaboration,” he stated.
“I congratulate the Commission and everyone involved in this effort, and we appreciate its enthusiasm for supporting IAGR’s international efforts to combat illegal online gambling,” Mullally added. “They are a deserving winner of the 2026 IAGR Regulatory Excellence Award.”
Since its creation in July 2022, FGCC has seized more than 14,000 illegal slot machines and over $24 million in illegal gambling proceeds. In the past year, it shut down 184 illegal gambling arcades and made 160 arrests.
The FGCC is the first statewide law enforcement agency created in Florida since 1967. The agency’s investigations have also helped combat illegal narcotics, firearms, and dog betting rings linked to criminal gambling operations.
FGCC Chair Julie Brown said the award recognised the work of the agency’s team and the support of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, the state legislature and Attorney General James Uthmeier.
“We are thrilled to receive such a tremendous honor for our very young agency,” Brown said. “This demonstrates that FGCC is a great team doing things correctly. We thank the International Association of Gaming Regulators for this extremely prestigious award.”
Uthmeier said his office has worked alongside FGCC to combat illegal gambling and would continue to push for tougher criminal penalties, stronger law enforcement, and greater accountability for illegal gambling operators.
“Illegal gambling operations pose a serious threat to public safety and jeopardize the integrity of gaming in our state,” he stated. “My office has worked aggressively alongside the FGCC this year to combat illegal gambling, and we have no intention of slowing down.”