Yesterday’s deadline for a negotiated gaming compact between the Seminole tribe and Governor Crist of Florida was finally met and signed behind closed doors. However, as the 20-year agreement did not meet many pre-conditions set by the state’s lawmakers, it could fail to get approval when it goes before legislators in a special session next month. As it stands the Seminoles will pay Florida US$150 million each year in return for keeping its banked card games at all seven casinos.

There were concessions on both sides: the tribe agreed to allow casinos in Miami-Dade and Broward to operate blackjack; the Governor agreed to give the tribe exclusivity of slot machines outside the two counties. Legislators wanted to limit the banked card games to just three Seminole casinos and keep an option to allow slot machines at some horse and dog tracks. If the compact is ratified then the existing racinos and jai alai frontons would get unlimited poker games and lower slot machine taxes.

The new compact provides for the Department of Revenue to oversee Seminole operations and not the present state agency that regulates gambling, the Department of Business and Professional Regulation, even though Revenue has no experience in gambling oversight. The issue has been described as complex and requiring review.

According to a statement from Governor Charlie Crist, the compact between state and tribe would enable Florida to invest in the future of the state’s children. Bill Galvano, lead negotiator for the House in gambling matters, has said of the signed compact that there are some concerns. The legislature may well return the compact for further changes before a final deal is struck but in the meantime the banked card games already being operated at the Seminole casinos now will be considered legal under Florida law.
(E-09.01.09)

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