Florida’s Ex-Gambling Chief Cracked Down on Fantasy Sports — Then Joined FanDuel

Louis Trombetta didn’t just regulate Florida’s gambling scene — he helped shape it. Now he’s on the other side of the table, and lawmakers aren’t thrilled.

After putting the squeeze on fantasy sports betting platforms, forcing three operators out of Florida, Trombetta stunned many by taking a job with FanDuel — one of their main rivals. A proposed bill aims to stop future regulators from pulling the same move.

From Watchdog to Industry Insider

Trombetta wasn’t quiet about enforcement.

When he stepped in as Florida’s first executive director of the Gaming Control Commission, he came with teeth. Under his leadership, three lesser-known fantasy sports companies — Underdog Fantasy, PrizePicks, and Betr — were essentially driven out.

He argued their versions of daily fantasy contests were illegal. Letters were sent. Pressure mounted. The companies paused their operations in Florida, seemingly overnight.

Just weeks later, Trombetta resigned. Then, barely skipping a beat, he was working for FanDuel — the very kind of company he’d helped clear the runway for.

Lawmaker Slams the Brakes

Florida State Sen. Travis Hutson wants this kind of regulatory whiplash to stop.

He’s filed a bill that would put a two-year ban on former gambling regulators working for gaming companies after leaving public office.

• Hutson calls it a “cooling off period,” saying it’s necessary to restore public trust

• Critics say Trombetta’s move reeks of conflict of interest

• FanDuel, unsurprisingly, hasn’t commented

Ethics advocates are watching closely. They’re not accusing Trombetta of doing anything illegal. But the optics? Not great.

Ethics vs. Legality

Let’s be clear — what Trombetta did isn’t technically against the law.

Florida’s current post-employment restrictions are pretty mild, and they don’t block former regulators from joining companies they once oversaw. The law says ex-officials can’t lobby their former agency for two years — but FanDuel’s lobbying reach is national.

“The system allows it,” said Ben Wilcox, research director at Integrity Florida, a government watchdog group. “But it smells bad.”

That’s the heart of the issue. Legally fine doesn’t mean ethically clean.

FanDuel’s Growing Muscle

FanDuel’s rise has been hard to miss.

Alongside DraftKings, it dominates the daily fantasy sports (DFS) market. And with Florida’s sports betting rules still in legal limbo — tied up in court battles and tribal gaming compacts — fantasy sports have been a workaround.

Trombetta’s crackdown essentially narrowed the field. Smaller firms were squeezed out under regulatory pressure.

Here’s how the DFS market shook out in Florida before and after:

FanDuel’s share grew stronger, and Trombetta went straight to their payroll. Critics call it a win-win — for him and the company.

Why It All Matters Now

This isn’t just about one man’s career move.

Florida’s gaming landscape is at a crossroads. Sports betting is still being challenged in the courts. The Seminole Tribe holds exclusive rights to offer it, but fantasy sports sit in a grey zone. That’s why regulatory power matters.

And when a regulator switches sides, it raises red flags.

Public trust in fair regulation is already shaky. Moves like this don’t help. If people start seeing regulators as future industry hires, it could undermine the whole system.

One sentence stands alone here:
Trombetta’s switch has made people nervous.

What Happens Next

Hutson’s bill hasn’t passed yet, and it’s unclear if it’ll gain traction.

Florida’s legislature is no stranger to industry influence. Lobbyists from the gaming sector are a constant presence in Tallahassee.

But there’s growing awareness — from voters and watchdogs alike — that the door between public office and private profit is spinning too fast.

Trombetta hasn’t spoken publicly about the timing of his move. FanDuel has kept quiet, too. But the controversy has already cast a long shadow over both.