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Seminoles May Hit Jackpot With Gambling Deal

TALLAHASSEE (CBS4) ― Republican Gov. Charlie Crist and the Seminole Indians are close to a deal that could bring the state more than $100 million a year, while allowing the tribe's casinos to offer Las Vegas-style slot machines and possibly card games like blackjack.

Crist, who took office in January, has made progress in compact negotiations with the tribe, unlike his predecessor, Gov. Jeb Bush, who adamantly opposed gambling and was at an impasse in talks when he left office.

Crist still faces pressure from some conservative Republicans not to give the tribe anything it isn't entitled to under federal law. But the governor is trying to work out an agreement that provides the state a significant amount of money while weighing concerns about new gambling.

"I don't feel that we have to do it. I want to do it if it's good for Florida. That's always been my feeling and we're tying to get the best opportunity for the taxpayers of our state," he said.

The state is forced to negotiate a compact that will allow the Seminoles to at the very least replace their video slot machines with the real thing at facilities like the Hard Rock casinos in Hollywood and Tampa.

That's because voters two years ago approved Vegas-style slots in Broward County jai-alai frontons and horse and dog tracks. Federal law allows Indian tribes to have whatever type of gambling that is allowed in a state.

But the state can't receive revenue from the tribe unless it agrees to a compact that gives the Seminoles some other sort of benefit, such as additional games not allowed elsewhere in Florida or a guarantee that the state won't allow competing games within a certain geographic region around the casinos.

The talks come at a time Florida is facing budget cuts. Lawmakers are trying to schedule a special session to cut $1.5 billion in state spending. Crist, though, said that is not a factor in the talks.

"I look at it as an opportunity, but not a necessity and I think that needs to be clear as we negotiate," he said.

The tribe and Crist's office will update the U.S. Interior Department on the status of the talks late Tuesday afternoon. Tribe lawyer Barry Richard said he believes a final deal could come as early as next week.

While Broward County in southeast Florida already has Vegas-style slots, the compact could promise the state revenue, for example, if Tampa Bay-area tracks are not allowed slot machines -- Vegas-style or video.

Crist has already said he will not agree to let the Seminoles run games like roulette or craps, but he hasn't ruled out card games like blackjack or baccarat, Richard said.

"Whether or not that will be in the final document, I don't know, but that's not a sticking point," Richard said.

But he said major points of the deal have been worked out, and if it stands as the tribe expects, the state will see $50 million when the compact is signed and an average annual income far in excess of $100 million.

"These projections are not pie in the sky, they're based upon actual historic numbers," Richard said. "Right now they aren't getting anything."

The tribe would also agree not to expand beyond their current seven casinos, which includes the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood where Anna Nicole Smith was found dead earlier this year.

Richard makes the point that the compact would be a disincentive to lawmakers to allow additional gambling around the state. It can't force the Legislature to ban gambling elsewhere, but if lawmakers do allow casinos off tribal land or more gambling at tracks, the state would receive less money from the Seminoles.

And receiving the money takes pressure off the state to look for new sources of money, he said.

In addition to keeping away competition, the Seminoles hope to bring in more gamblers with more games and upgraded slots.

"There are people who are interested in the other games, which is an opportunity for the tribe," said spokesman Gary Bitner. "More dollars for the tribe would potentially be more dollars for the state."

But some conservative Republicans say they don't care about the extra money if it means more gambling.

"We believe the aim of the negotiations should be to agree to the bare minimum amount of gambling to which the Tribe is entitled under the law. Instead of maximizing revenue, we want to minimize the inevitable social harm associated with expanded tribal gambling," House Speaker Marco Rubio and other Republican House leaders said in a letter this week to Crist.

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