Florida Gov. Charlie Crist (R) will most definitely enter into a compact with the Seminole Tribe, the chief negotiator for the state said.

Crist was given 60 days to reach an agreement. Interior Secretary Drk Kempthorne said he will act if the two parties can't come to a deal.

The tribe has always been willing to negotiate but faced opposition under previous governors. The legal landscape changed when state voters approved slot machines in South Florida in 2004. Under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, tribes can offer games similar to the ones allowed in states.

The tribe owns seven casinos, most of which are responsible for the $1.56 billion in Indian gaming revenues in 2006. The Miccosukee Tribe operates one casino and also plans to negotiate a compact.

Get the Story:
Odds favor upgrade to Vegas-style slots (The St. Petersburg Times 6/29)
Seminole Indians to offer bigger betting limits and jackpots in poker games (The South Florida Sun-Sentinel 6/29)
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