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Gambling Lawsuit Begins

October 3rd, 2016 by flanews

The cards are still being dealt at Seminole casinos in the state despite a deal between the Tribe and Florida expiring last year. As Matt Galka tells us, both the tribe and the state are looking for clarity in a trial that began Monday.

The stakes are high…and we’re not even in a casino.

The Seminole Tribe’s lawsuit against the state began Monday.  At risk – the exclusive right to offer blackjack and other table games in what’s been a lucrative deal for both sides since the Seminole compact was signed in 2010.

Seminole Gaming CEO Jim Allen says people’s livelihoods are in jeopardy.

“Most importantly, there’s 3700 people that have jobs that we’re trying to protect,” he said.

The Seminole Compact expired last year…with the state arguing the table games should have been removed at the end of that deal. But the Tribe’s lawyers say the state broke the deal first – violating exclusivity by allowing video blackjack at other places in the state.

 

The Governor and the tribe did strike a new deal but it was rejected by Florida’s legislature.

The deal would have been worth $3 billion dollars to the state, and also would have allowed new games like craps and roulette. Something Allen says isn’t exactly a huge money maker for the Tribe.

“The perception is that craps creates all this value but the reality is you go to any casino in Vegas or Atlantic City and there’s six tables,” he said.

It will be up to the federal judge to determine who will be holding all the cards when the trial concludes. It’s expected to go all week.

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