Florida Supreme Court Voids Casino Deal, Seminoles Vow To Fight Back

The Seminole Indians were faced with a dilemma on Thursday morning after the Florida Supreme Court ruled to void the compact that was signed between the Seminoles and Governor Charlie Crist.

In response to the ruling, the Seminoles have done nothing, and will do nothing, to stop the blackjack and Vegas style slots gambling. That is according to a source close to the Seminoles.

The Supreme Court ruled that the compact that was signed between Crist and the Seminoles was done so illegally. They claim that the governor did not have a right to negotiate the compact because the games allowed within the compact were not legal in other areas of the state.

"The tribe is studying the decision and plans no immediate change in any of the games that are offered. We want people to know that if they come to any of the casinos in the state this weekend for the holiday, that they can play," said Spokesman Gary Bitner.

The Seminoles are more likely to absorb any fines that will be imposed by the state rather than shut down the lucrative blackjack games, according to the source. The Seminole Hard Rock Casino in Hollywood has been jam packed with gamblers since unveiling their new blackjack tables.

The ruling was especially sweet for House Speaker Marco Rubio, who was fighting the compact for what some believed to be biased opinions. Rubio's own county, Miami Dade, recently expanded their legalized gambling options, yet he was opposed to the expanded gambling that the Governor put in place through the compact.

Rubio has been fighting against the compact since it was signed. While today was a victory for Rubio, it also opens the door for more extreme expanded gambling in the state.

Under the compact, the Seminoles had exclusive rights to the table games, leaving South Florida pari-mutuels on the outside looking in. Now, with the compact ruled void, the Seminoles will continue to offer the games, only the rest of the pari-mutuels that offer gambling can now begin their fight to have blackjack and baccarat at their casinos.

In essence, all today's ruling meant is that the Seminoles will now get their rights to the games through the Federal system and not have to pay Florida a dollar of the revenue. Florida also took a big step in their movement towards becoming the next Las Vegas of the East through the ruling.

Negotiations will begin, voters will have their say, and blackjack will soon be in all casinos in the state of Florida, a scenario that Rubio might have been angling for all along.

July 3, 2008
Posted By Susan Torres
Staff Editor, CasinoGamblingWeb.com
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