Expanded Casino Gambling For Seminoles in Florida One Step Closer

Governor Charlie Crist and the Seminole Indians moved one step closer to having expanded gambling in the state's casinos on Wednesday. The United States Department of the Interior approved the compact.

The Federal approval was a much needed step to move forward in the execution of the compact. Once it is published in the Federal Register, the Seminoles may move forward with offering the expanded table games.

Even though the compact has been approved Federally, there still is a legal battle ahead for the Seminoles and Crist. While Attorney General Bill McCullum announced the Interior's approval, he is still causing controversy over the compact.

McCullum is requesting that a Federal judge move up the date for a hearing on a lawsuit he filed last month. He is hoping eventually that the Florida Supreme Court blocks the compact from being executed.

opponents of the compact have argued that the state did not receive enough money in the deal. Others believe that Crist went above his authority in signing the compact.

At worse case scenario right now, the Seminoles will be allowed to replace their current slot machines with Vegas style machines.

January 3, 2008
Posted By Larry Rutherford
Staff Editor, CasinoGamblingWeb.com
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