Seminole Compact Facing Scrutiny as Legislative Session Nears
January 7th, 2016 by Mike Vasilinda
Florida lawmakers begin their annual session Tuesday and signing a new gambling deal negotiated between the Seminole Tribe and Governor Rick Scott is high on the agenda. And as Mike Vasilinda tells us, the Tribe’s supporters have a new poll out today suggesting Floridians approve of the deal.
Governor Rick Scott and the Seminole Tribe inked the new compact in December. It gives the state 3 billion over seven years, triple what it gets now.
Nat sot: “This is an historic day”.
In exchange, the tribe gets more slots, more card tables and roulette and craps. Lawmakers must still approve.Seminole Gaming CEO Jim Allen says the deal if good for everyone.
“The compact will save thirty-five hundred jobs, people that are working today. Ah, It will create another four thousand permanent jobs.”
A poll by the Florida Chamber says 70 percent believe the blackjack deal with the tribe has been good for the state. Chamber VP Dave Hart says the group has been a supporter of signing a new deal for more than a year.
“And we’ve also believed that a compact and a renewed compact was the most significant way to contain the expansion of gambling.”
Tucked deep inside the compact is a provision that could end live racing at horse and dog tracks.”
Florida horse and dog breeders are already trying to kill the so called decoupling language, arguing it would result in expanded gambling. Jack Cory represents the Florida Greyhound Assn.
“Now you’re going to be running off-track betting parlors, you’re gonna be running card rooms, and obviously, everybody is going to want to expand to slot machines.”
No Casino’s says the poll is misleading because it allows expanded gambling in Florida. The Tribe disputes that.
“That’s actually not accurate. There is no more locations.. In fact, the compact is very specific that there can’t beans expansion of locations” says Jim Allen.
Which proves that the definition of expanded gambling is in the eyes of the beholder and now in the hands of the legislature.
There’s no guarantee lawmakers will approve a new compact, which is why both the state and Seminole Tribe are keeping federal lawsuits alive aimed at either keeping the games going or shutting them down.
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