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The clock is ticking on blackjack and other card games at five Seminole Indian casinos. The tribe has until Thursday to shut down the gaming after the state and Seminoles didn’t reach a renewal agreement. But as Mike Vasilinda tells us, the tribe is instead going to court.

The Seminole compact allowing black jack and other banked card games ran out in July…but a second deadline…to shut down the card games comes on Thursday. On Monday, the tribe went to federal court, arguing they have a right to keep dealing because the state hasn’t negotiated in good faith.

Governor Rick Rick Scott says his lawyers are looking at the suit.

”Well, I want to take care of our state. I want to make the best deal I can to represent our state and that’s what I’ve worked on doing” said Scott. AP reporter Gary Fineout followed up with this question: ”But sir, I guess what I want to know are you going to ask the tribe to follow the law?”

A:”well, Gary as I said, our legal team is reviewing it and we’re going to do the right thing for the state.”

Legislative negotiator Sen. Rob Bradley says they are getting closer…but not likely to have a new deal by Thursday.

“Central to the negotiations is the idea that if we are going to extend this agreement for the tribe to conduct banked card games, then that would necessarily include a higher payment to the state” says Bradley.

In a statement, the tribe says it is hopeful a new deal can be reached, but says it will be business as usual as it continues to operate the card games

In 2010 when the Supreme Court said the original compact was illegal, the cards kept dealing and the cash kept flowing.

Efforts to reach a new deal have been stymied by a legislative push to expand casino gambling in Florida. That includes giving dog and horse tracks more leeway to stop racing or offer other forms of gambling.

Earlier today, the group NO Casino’s announced it is seeking to require voter approval for any expansion of  gambling in Florida.