Compacts | Litigation

Seminole Tribe willing to share $3B in casino revenue with state

Friday, November 20, 2015

Blackjack tables at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Tampa, Florida. Photo from Facebook

The Seminole Tribe and the state of Florida continue to battle in federal court over Class III gaming compact negotiations.

The tribe sued the state in the Northern District after key provisions of 2010 compact expired at the end of July. The lawsuit accuses the state of failing to engage in "good faith" negotiations as required by the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act.

The state responded with a suit in the Middle District, calling on the tribe to stop offering blackjack at its facilities. The compact provided for a grace period that expired on October 29 but the games are still being played.

The tribe now wants both cases consolidated in the Northern District, The News Service of Florida reported. But the state wants the tribe's suit dismissed, or at least transferred to the Middle District.

The tribe and the state had been in talks to renew the agreement but they do not appear to have been successful. According to The News Service, the tribe was willing to share $3 billion over seven years in exchange for craps and roulette and regional exclusivity.

Since 2010, the tribe has shared more than $1 billion in revenues with the state.

Get the Story:
State Asks Court to Dismiss Seminoles' Lawsuit (The News Service of Florida 11/18)
Gambling expert says Seminoles may run afoul of organized crime laws (Florida Politics 11/19)
Stakeholders On Both Sides Worry Outcome Of Seminole Gaming Agreement Could Be A Gamble (WFSU 11/19)