U.S. Attorney asked to close Seminole casinos

Thursday, December 18, 2008  

The U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Florida is being asked to stop the Seminole Tribe from engaging in Class III gaming.

The tribe is operating slot machines and card games under a compact that was approved by the Bureau of Indian Affairs. But the Florida Supreme Court said the card games aren't legal in the state.

Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum asked the National Indian Gaming Commission to shut down the tribe's Class III games but the agency hasn't taken any action. So he wants U.S. Attorney Brian Albritton to stop the tribe.

"In my constitutional role as Florida’s chief legal officer, I am deeply concerned that the Tribe continues to defiantly ignore the decision of the Florida Supreme Court. There can be no dispute that operating banked card games is contrary to Florida law,” McCollum wrote in a letter quoted by The Palm Beach Post.

The tribe operates seven casinos.

Get the Story:
McCollum asks federal prosecutor to shut down Seminoles (The Palm Beach Post 12/18)
Anti-gambling coalition warns ‘perfect storm’ gathering for gambling expansion (Florida Baptist Witness 12/18)
Expansion of Seminole Casino means 500 new jobs (The Fort Myers News-Press 12/18)