Seminole Tribe said to be in talks to update Class III gaming compact

Tuesday, April 9, 2019

A hotel tower in the shape of a guitar is rising at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida. Photo: Seminole Hard Rock

The Seminole Tribe is reportedly in talks to update its Class III gaming compact with the state of Florida.

The News Service of Florida said state lawmakers have been negotiating with the tribe in hopes of reaching a new deal before the end of their legislative session on May 3. They are also mindful of a separate agreement -- due to expire at the end of May -- in which the tribe has agreed to continue sharing revenues with the state.

The tribe shares between $300 million and $350 million a year with the state, according to news reports. The money has continued to flow even though a federal judge ruled that the state violated the compact by allowing non-Indian offer card games that had been promised exclusively to the tribe.

But since an agreement isn't certain, state lawmakers aren't including the tribe's payments in their budget, The News Service of Florida reported.

The tribe and the state entered into the compact in 2010. Figures posted by Florida Politics show that the tribe has shared nearly $1.8 billion with the state so far.

The tribe operates six gaming facilities in southern Florida.

Read More on the Story

Clock running out on ‘grand bargain’ between state, Seminole Tribe (The News Service of Florida April 4, 2019)
Florida’s Lawmakers and Tribes Reportedly Iron Out Differences (Gambling News April 8, 2019)
Florida Reopens Compact Negotiations with the Seminoles But Tribe Holds the Cards (Casino.Org April 9, 2019)