Galvano Continues To Posture In Seminole Gambling Battle In Fla.

The deadline to complete a gambling compact between the state of Florida and the Seminole Indian tribe is Monday, and while both sides are negotiating, a deal is still not done.

Almost everybody knows it will be better to complete the deal by the deadline, but Representative Bob Galvano, the lead House negotiator, continues to posture right down to the wire. Galvano is still threatening to send the case to the US Department of the Interior.

In recent days, there has been a closing of the gap between what the Seminoles want, which is exclusivity of table games, and what the state is willing to compromise on, which at the current time, does not look like much.

The legislature in Florida came up with a plan that they sent to the Seminoles before the last session ended, however, the Seminoles have balked at several issues in the compact. They do not want to pay the state based on the structure presented by lawmakers, and they want exclusivity.

The Seminoles negotiators have conceded on some points, but the representatives must still gain approval from their respective sides. Representative Galvano believes the state will approve some of the changes that were made, but stayed the course on his threat to take the battle federal.

"The message that I hope resonates with the tribe is that the path to bringing resolution in one that involves a compact that is very close to the one that was sent forward to the Legislature," said Galvano, as reported in The Miami Herald, "if a compact comes out on Monday that is drastically different...it may be to the point that it goes to the feds."

The Seminoles wanted exclusivity for their blackjack and baccarat games, and they want to eliminate the payments they make to the state by half if the state should expand those table games to pari-mutuels in Broward and Miami-Dade. The state agrees that the Seminoles should get a break if that expansion happens, but only in increments.

The pari-mutuels are holding their breath for the compact to be completed by Monday. Part of the plan that legislators passed was that the pari-mutuels would receive a lower tax rate and would also be allowed to operate with expanded hours. Poker would also be expanded to increase revenue at the pari-mutuels.

August 27, 2009
Posted By Larry Rutherford
Staff Editor, CasinoGamblingWeb.com
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