"While Gov. Charlie Crist pushes his campaign to expand gambling at Seminole Tribe casinos, President Barack Obama is doubling down on the deal.

Looking to reverse a Bush administration policy, the U.S. Interior Department is considering looser licensing rules that would permit Indian tribes to operate casinos on non-tribal lands far from their reservations.

Industry observers say this could trigger new Indian casino projects in several states, including Florida. The Miccosukee band, for example, could win a waiver to extend its gaming operations beyond Miami-Dade County. Dodgertown Hotel-Casino, anyone?

Goosing Indian gaming appears to be unnecessary, if not unwise. Tribal casinos already enjoy significant tax advantages vis-a-vis non-Indian operators. According to the Wall Street Journal, Moody’s Investor Service recently warned that under U.S. law, lenders cannot seize Indian casino assets in the event of default or bankruptcy."

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Editorial: Thumb down: Indian casinos on the Indian River? That's a bad bet (The Stuart News 9/25)