Lawmakers In Florida Agree To Gambling Deal With Seminole Indians

For several years, the state of Florida and the Seminole Indians have been engaged in negotiations involving increased gambling at Seminole casinos. On Friday, it appears that a deal has finally been reached that is acceptable to all parties.

Representative Bill Galvano has been the lead negotiator with the Seminoles, and there have been some contentious times during the negotiations. At one point, it looked as though the two sides would have the issue played out on a federal level.

When lawmakers came back in the new year, however, they were more knowledgeable on the gambling issue, and that apparently has paid off in an agreement. Galvano stopped short of saying it was a done deal, because the tribal council and the Florida House and Senate must all approve the agreement.

The general terms of the agreement call for the Seminoles to get exclusive rights to blackjack at their Seminole Hard Rock and Coconut Creek casinos. They also would have exclusivity in Tampa and Immokalee. Exclusivity was a major point of negotiation break downs in the past.

In exchange for the blackjack and the right to operate Vegas-style slot machines, the Seminoles would pay the state of Florida for the next two decades. The deal, in all, is worth an approximate $1.5 billion.

Governor Charlie Crist had twice negotiated compacts with the Seminoles, but both times legislators turned away the agreements. In 2010, lawmakers and the Seminoles entered negotiations directly for the first time. Check back with CGW for updates as this story unfolds.

April 2, 2010
Posted By Tom Jones
Staff Editor, CasinoGamblingWeb.com
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