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Black Jack, Poker and big time Slots could be coming to a Seminole Indian Casino sooner than later. The tribe, the State, and The U-S Government spent 90 minutes on a conference call late yesterday, and as Mike Vasilinda tells us, an agreement to allow the games is very close.

Hear it here: mvpkg-sept-12.mp3

Florida has told the Seminole Indian tribe that it is willing to give them Black Jack and Poker, but not roulette, backgammon, or other class three games. The state will get a cut of the profits in exchange. The Indian Casinos will also get class three slots, but those slots are a foregone conclusion whether the state agrees or not. Barry Richard, the tribe’s lawyer, says adding the card games make the deal worth millions.

“Projections which are realistic projections are. Would get the state substantially and excess of 100 million dollars over the year over the life of the contract.” says Richard.

The deal is close, but not done yet. What the state willing to give away is exclusivity the Seminoles will get blackjack and slots at all seven casinos; but if the legislature ever authorizes those games anywhere else, any money from this deal would go away. According to those on a Tuesday conference call, the U-S Government made it clear the Seminoles will get class three slots, and perhaps more, with or without state approval. George Lemiux has been negotiating for the governor and says his hands are tied “They are not going to give us anything for going into a deal just to do slot machines. So they have to have something more, so we’ve talked about more expansive card games. But the Governor doesn’t want to go anywhere past that.”

State lawmakers have told the governor they want final say. But a memo from the tribe says legislative approval is not necessary.