Seminole gaming executive seeks action on deal

Wednesday, October 21, 2009  

The Seminole Tribe is getting tired of waiting for the Florida Legislature to approve a Class III gaming compact, a top executive said.

James F. Allen, the chief executive officer of gaming operations for the tribe, spoke at the Florida Gaming Summit on Tuesday. He said the tribe needs certainty for its casino empire.

"It's gone on too long, and what's been going on is not in the tribe's best interests,'' he said of the inaction on the compact, The Miami Herald reported.

The compact runs for 20 years and authorizes slot machines and table games at seven casinos. The tribe is expected to share a minimum of $150 million a year with the state.

Some lawmakers question whether the tribe should be granted exclusivity for Class III games. Allen said the tribe won't share revenues with the state if gaming is allowed elsewhere.

Get the Story:
Seminoles demand Crist, lawmakers act on proposed gambling compact (The Miami Herald 10/21)
State gambling agreement with Seminole tribe may still be far away (The Naples News 10/21)
Local casinos play waiting game (The South Florida Sun-Sentine 10/21)
State puts off gambling pact (The Fort Myers News-Press 10/20)