This morning Governor Charlie Crist signed Florida’s new gaming bill that authorises him to negotiate a 15-year compact with the Seminole Tribe. The bill also paves the way for Hialeah Park Racetrack, closed in 2001, to reopen as a racino with slot machines. Signing the bill at a High School in Miami – the gaming bill will bring extra funding for state schools – Crist thanked both the Legislature and the Tribe for the opportunity to help develop world-class schools in Florida.

The gaming bill also allows poker rooms to remain open 18 hours a day Monday to Friday and 24 hours at weekends, but raises the gambling age at the Seminole casinos to 21. The 15-year compact negotiations have a 31 August 2009 deadline and would guarantee a minimum US$150 million annual payment to the state. The Tribe would pay 12% of profits up to US$2.5 billion rising in stages to 25% of any profits above US$4.5 billion.

The present bill would restrict banked card games to the Seminole’s three Broward casinos and the Hard Rock Tampa. Any agreement would require the Seminole Casinos to develop a problem gambling prevention programme, submit to an annual financial audit and maintain injury compensation for patrons.

The Seminole attorney has already said that the Tribe is unlikely to approve the deal but that the bill was a good starting point for negotiations. He pointed out that without sufficient guarantee of exclusivity federal law prohibits sharing of tribal revenue. Tough words from the House Select Committee on Seminole Indian Compact Review suggest that Florida’s Legislature may not be willing to concede much at all in the compact bargaining about to start. (E-06.15.09)

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