Compacts | Opinion

Editorial: Seminole Tribe's gaming compact is good for Florida

Monday, December 28, 2015

The Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida. Photo from Facebook

Florida newspaper calls on Gov. Rick Scott (R) to push for passage of a new Class III gaming compact with the Seminole Tribe:

Florida has had a lucrative, but difficult relationship with gambling ever since voters approved the Florida lottery in 1986. How difficult? Well, the last compact, which required the Seminole tribe to pay the state at least $1 billion over five years expired in July. The Seminoles, who currently retain exclusive rights to blackjack and other “banked” card games, satisfied that agreement. They could continue operating without paying the state a dime.
The Scott deal would bring in a guaranteed minimum of $3 billion in revenue over seven years, more than double the amount of the old pact on an annual basis. In exchange, the Seminoles would be adding craps and roulette to blackjack at their seven casinos in the state — but couldn’t expand for 20 years.
We agree with state Sen. Rob Bradley, R-Fleming Island, when he says: “Those are dollars that we’re going to be able to use for core services, education, transportation and health care.”
In the signed compact, the Seminoles also pledge “to make significant investments” — $1.8 billion — in their gambling facilities. Most of that would be spent on non-gaming construction like hotel rooms.

Get the Story:
Editorial: Scott must help see new gaming pact through (The Palm Beach Post 11/27)

Also Today:
Gaming conglomerate's donation to Gov. Scott draws scrutiny (News 13 12/24)
Gaming interests donate to Scott after compact deal reached (The Tampa Bay Times 12/22)