Opinion: Renew Class III gaming compact with Seminole Tribe

Protecting Florida's global brand as a family-friendly tourist destination is critical. The Seminole Compact remains the best option to effectively manage gambling in Florida, preventing what could become a widespread expansion of Las Vegas-style casinos in our state. By continuing to give the tribe a level of exclusivity in exchange for revenue-sharing payments, Florida benefits financially while eliminating the potential for further expansion of gambling in Florida. Taxpayers deserve the revenue; voters don't want expanded casino gambling. It's a perfect solution.

By all measures, the tribe has delivered on its promised revenue payments of more than $1 billion to taxpayers over the first five years of the compact. More than 10,000 people are employed at its seven gaming complexes, mostly in the southern part of the state, and the tribe says more than 3,100 of them could lose their jobs if the tribe is no longer permitted to offer banked card games. In other words, jobs could be lost and taxpayers would lose.

Even better for Florida taxpayers, the tribe has committed to invest an estimated $1.6 billion to upgrade its Hard Rock facilities in Tampa and Hollywood if it gains the confidence that a new compact agreement will mean stability for the tribe's future.

Unlike any other casino gambling interest in Florida, the Seminole Tribe is actually headquartered in the state and has been here for hundreds of years. The tribe owns Hard Rock International, which maintains its worldwide headquarters in Orlando and was recently named to Forbes' list of America's Best Employers in 2015. Both the Seminole Tribe and Hard Rock are committed to working with Florida businesses. In addition, Seminole Gaming profits generated in Florida stay in Florida, through reinvestment and a Florida payroll of more than 12,500 people.