Editorial: Approve compact with Seminole Tribe

Friday, March 20, 2009  

" This deal’s straightforward. In negotiations with state government over a gaming compact, Florida’s Seminole Indian Tribe asks for exclusive rights to house-banked card games in exchange for a cut of the profits.

Gov. Charlie Crist made that deal last year, but the Legislature sued and the state Supreme Court ruled he lacked the authority to sign a compact. That put the issue before the Legislature.

At risk is an estimated $288 million in revenue sharing this fiscal year and the next one, which would help bail out Florida’s multibillion budget gap.

But the state House — with our own Rep. Bill Galvano leading the discussion as chairman of the House Select Committee on Seminole Indian Compact Review — is balking at card games. Galvano plans to draft a bill requiring Crist to renegotiate with the tribe and allow slot machines but not card games.

We believe that strategy will fail to get the state a dime from the tribe."

Get the Story:
Editorial: Tribal gaming deal (The Bradenton Herald 3/20)

More Storeis:
Florida lawmakers to take up Seminole gambling pact (The Miami Herald 3/20)
Economist spells out tribe casinos' inherent advantage (The Tampa Bay Tribune 3/20)