Florida lawmakers clash on Seminole compact

Wednesday, March 25, 2009  

Lawmakers in Florida are at odds over Class III gaming for the Seminole Tribe.

A bill in the state Senate affirms the tribe's rights to offer all forms of Class III gaming, including slot machines and table games. But the House proposal only allows slots.

The Senate bill requires the tribe to share $400 million a year with the state. That's higher than the revenue-sharing rate in a compact the tribe signed with Gov. Charlie Crist (R).

The House proposal maintains the same rate as the old compact but it doesn't appear to allow the tribe exclusivity to slot machines in southern Florida, where non-Indian race tracks already operate slots.

Get the Story:
Senate bill offers full-fledged casinos to Seminoles (The South Florida Sun-Sentinel 3/25)
Senate proposal to allow craps, roulette at Seminole casinos (The Naples Daily News 3/25)
Florida Senate, House lay out opposing gambling proposals (The Miami Herald 3/25)
Broward County hoping for share of Seminole casino revenue (The Miami Herald 3/25)