Editorial: Negotiate new casino compact with Seminole Tribe

The state of Florida is playing a disrespectful hand in not sitting down with the Seminole Tribe to discuss the pending expiration of a lucrative portion of the 2010 gambling compact. That agreement authorized the tribe to conduct banked card games such as blackjack at its casinos; the pact also called for negotiations in advance of that expiration.

The Seminoles operate some of the state's most well-known and popular casinos, including the flag-ship destinations in Tampa and Hollywood. The state and tribe signed a 20-year agreement in 2010 with the banked games portion expiring in five years.

A divided Legislature couldn't come to an agreement on an extension of this part of the compact during last year's session or this year's, and now the ball's in Gov. Rick Scott's hands.

The tribe sent a five-page letter in late June informing the state that the Seminoles will keep blackjack and other games in place because Florida regulators violated the gambling compact by allowing banked card games elsewhere, thus breaking the pact's provision giving the tribe exclusive rights to those games.