Blackjack Could Be Eliminated From Florida Seminole Gaming Compact

The state of Florida is in a precarious position when it comes to casino gambling at Seminole tribal casinos. In Hollywood, the Seminole Hard Rock is running blackjack tables under a former agreement reached with Governor Charlie Crist.

The problem for the state is the compact was voided by the state Supreme Court, but the Seminoles have continued to offer the popular table game. Negotiations are under way for a new compact, but the Seminoles may not be happy with the outcome of these talks.

Legislators are leaning towards pulling blackjack and baccarat out of any new potential deal with the Seminoles. If, indeed, this is the case, the Seminoles feel that the whole negotiations would change.

"If we're going to remove pieces of the economic model, everything would have to be revisited," said Jim Allen, Chief Executive Officer for Seminole Hard Rock Resorts.

By everything, Allen was speaking mostly of the $100 million annual guarantee that the Seminoles would have paid the state for the next twenty five years under the original compact. Blackjack was a main reason for that figure, and if the game is eliminated from future compacts, so too would be some of that guaranteed money.

The state is maintaining the position that even without blackjack, the exclusivity outside of Broward and Miami-Dade Counties for Vegas style slots would be something worthwhile to the Seminoles. The tribe, however, does not see things through the same eyes.

The Seminoles already have the blackjack tables installed at a couple of their Florida casinos. For them to pull the games, and the millions of dollars in revenue, off the casino floors, the state would certainly have to lower the amount of money the Seminoles are expected to give to the state.

In addition to their own revenue, the Seminoles are maintaining the idea that if they eliminate the blackjack and baccarat games, over 5,000 jobs would be lost. That is money that will be taken from an already struggling economy in Florida.

The legislation that is currently being drafted could be proposed as early as next week, although some believe it could take a little longer than that.

March 13, 2009
Posted By Terry Goodwin
Staff Editor, CasinoGamblingWeb.com
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