Day after the Florida House Speaker Larry Cretul, asked the Federal Government to close down the Seminole casinos in the sunshine state until the compact for operation of casinos style games is reached; Gov. Charlie Crist said that he still hoped for a gambling deal between the state and the Seminoles: "To me, it seems so obviously the right thing to do."

Last week, Cretul said that after he had written to George Skibine, president of the National Indian Gaming Commission: “We’re way too far from what the tribes demand and we are not prepared to allow a gaming compact according to other states gaming legislation. Moreover, in my opinion, we have reached an impasse that can only be resolved with your intervention”.

Crist said that on his reasoning, the Seminoles would contribute US $150 million to education and create 40,000 jobs in exchange for exclusive rights to blackjack and other table games at its seven Florida casinos, and was skeptical about Cretul’s demands, adding: "I don't think that's going to happen. People can ask for things all the time. Even I ask for things."

However, Cretul insists that the Seminole casinos should be closed and receive fines for ‘substantial violations’ of Indian Gaming Regulations, adding: “They will not force us to accept a compact that grants the tribe more games than they can appropriately ask for according to IGRA.”

Crist visited the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino last Monday to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the United South & Eastern Tribes, a non-profit, inter-tribal organization. Speakers there called Crist "an honorable man and a friend of the tribe," and greeted him with three standing ovations. He did not address the gambling deal with them.

In 2007, Crist and the tribe came to an agreement that would bring blackjack to the tribe's casinos in exchange for US$150 million in payments, but the courts determined that Crist had no authority to negotiate such a deal. The Legislature, which has since offered its version to the tribe and sat down with Crist to make a counteroffer in the summer, might discuss it at a special session in December.

After addressing the group, Crist spent 10 minutes in a private conversation with Jim Shore, the tribe's general counsel. Shore said: “He’s in charge. We're leaving it up to him." (E-10.30.09)

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