Florida Gov. Charlie Crist (R) has 60 days to negotiate a Class III compact with the Seminole Tribe, Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne said in a letter.
If an agreement isn't reached, the Interior Department will issue procedures so the tribe can engage in Class III gaming, Kempthorne wrote on June 22 [PDF]. The Indian Gaming Regulatory Act authorized federal involvement if the state and tribe reach an impasse. The tribe has been trying to negotiate a deal ever since state voters approved slot machines in November 2004. But efforts with former governor Jeb Bush (R) failed. Crist has said he is open to a compact. The tribe is willing to share revenues from slot machines. Get the Story: