Seminole Tribe accuses state of breaking gaming compact again

Tuesday, March 28, 2017

The Seminole Tribe owns and operates the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel in Tampa, Florida. Photo: Nicolás Lope de Barrios

>
The Seminole Tribe is once again accusing the state of Florida of violating the Class III gaming compact.

Last fall, a federal judge ruled that the state broke the exclusivity provisions of the agreement by allowing an expansion of non-Indian gaming. Now, a new ruling from a state judge is raising fresh concerns about the spread of gaming devices in non-tribal facilities.

“Slots-style type games materially the same as these have been held by federal and state courts in other jurisdictions to be illegal slot machines and are a clear violation of the Tribe’s negotiated exclusivity as set forth in its gaming compact with the state which guarantee exclusive operation of slot machines outside of Miami-Dade and Broward counties in exchange for monthly payments,” Chairman Marcellus Osceola Jr., wrote in a letter to Gov. Rick Scott (R) and top state lawmakers, The Miami Herald reported.

The tribe has been trying to negotiate a new compact but has warned the state about a share of gaming revenues without offering some form of exclusivity. Despite the misgivings, the tribe has continue to share revenues with the state as a show of good faith.

Read More on the Story:
Seminole Tribe puts Florida legislature on notice: fix loophole-laden gaming law or lose what's left of compact revenue (The Miami Herald 3/27)
State, Tribe target judge's ruling on games (The News Service of Florida 3/28)