Jan 28, 2008 9:00 pm US/Eastern
Vegas-Style Slots Spin On In Seminole Casino
1,000 Machines Began Spinning Monday
They Replace Older, Bingo Style Machines
State Supreme Court Takes Up Issues Wednesday
HOLLYWOOD (CBS4) ―
The Seminole Tribe of Florida officially welcomed Las Vegas-style slot machines on Monday at the Seminole Hard Rock Casino in Hollywood.
That's much sooner than anyone had expected but Seminole Tribe spokesman Gary Bitner said manufacturers were able to deliver the machines earlier than planned.
The first 1,000 machines started spinning and clicking on Monday and replace the older, Bingo style machines. The Hollywood casino is the first to be converted to the Vegas-style slots, which are already in play at race tracks in Broward County.
In November, Governor Charlie Crist and Seminole Tribe leaders signed a compact allowing Vegas-style gaming, including slots, blackjack and baccarat at its seven casinos. The tribe agreed to pay $50 million up front to the state, part of a guaranteed minimum of $375 million over the first three years. The agreement also calls for the tribe to give the state a minimum of $100 million annually thereafter, and possibly much more, based on a percentage of total revenues outlined in the compact.
The agreement, which went into effect earlier this month, has been challenged by state lawmakers who say they must approve any agreement Crist negotiates however, the U.S. Department of the Interior, which oversees Indian tribes, has already approved the compact as required by law.
But agency lawyers and a federal judge in Washington, D.C., have said the approval can be overturned if Florida's Supreme Court rules it isn't valid. The state Supreme Court is scheduled to hear oral arguments on Wednesday about whether the compact is valid
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