Compacts

Seminole Tribe faces hurdles for new Class III gaming compact

Friday, January 8, 2016

A view of the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel in Tampa, Florida. Photo from Facebook

Florida lawmakers will consider a new Class III gaming compact for the Seminole Tribe when they return to work next week.

The compact promises $3.1 billion to the state and the tribe is promising to create up 15,000 construction and permanent jobs by investing in its properties. Despite the big-ticket promises one key lawmaker isn't confident of success.

"There is a very real possibility that we will not pass a compact this session," Senate Majority Leader Bill Galvano (R) said at the Florida Gaming Congress on Thursday, The Tampa Bay Times reported.

If the new deal isn't ratified, the tribe can still operate under the prior agreement. But a key provision regarding blackjack expired at the end of October and the tribe has asserted the right to continue offering the game. The state sought to dismiss the lawsuit but a federal judge refused, the Associated Press reported.

Since 2010, the tribe has shared more than $1 billion with the state.

Get the Story:
Key state lawmaker says passage of a $3 billion gaming deal unlikely (The Tampa Bay Times 1/7)
Seminole Compact Facing Scrutiny as Legislative Session Nears (Capitol News Service 1/7)
Judge rejects bid by Florida to toss Seminole Tribe lawsuit (AP 1/7)
Gambling foes at odds over poll (The News Service of Florida 1/7)