Opinion: Poarch Creeks qualify for Class III gaming in Florida

The recently published editorial by The Tampa Tribune “Squeezed by the gaming vice” (Our Views, April 10) attempts to make a compelling argument urging Florida lawmakers to reject entering into a compact with the Poarch Band of Creek Indians (PBCI). However, the argument they attempt to make is based on the wrong information.

The editorial states that the PBCI “is not federally recognized in Florida; only the Seminoles and Miccosukee Tribe are” and therefore, Gov. Rick Scott and members of the Legislature should not entertain the idea of allowing PBCI the same rights and options when it comes to gaming offerings on their land.

This statement is false. The Seminole and Miccosukee tribes are the two federally recognized tribes with headquarters in Florida. But PBCI, although headquartered in Escambia County, Ala., is a federally recognized tribe with land in trust in Florida, and approximately one third of its tribal members reside in Escambia County and Santa Rosa County in Florida.