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Deadline Extended On Deal Over Seminole Casinos

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Sep 4, 2007 8:14 am US/Eastern

Deadline Extended On Deal Over Seminole Casinos

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TALLAHASSEE (CBS4) ― The Seminole Tribe will have to wait another week for Florida's decision as to whether they will be allowed to set up Las Vegas-style gambling in their casinos.

The U.S. Interior Department extended the deadline for an agreement until September 11th.

The tribe believes they should be allowed to bring so-called Class Three games like blackjack and roulette to its casinos because the state allowed Las Vegas-style slot machines in Broward County's tracks and jai-alai fronton.

While the federal Interior Department would have to approve an agreement between the state and the tribe, it could allow full-scale gambling with no state taxation if no deal is reached.

The negotiations with the Seminoles are coming at a time when the state needs the money bad. Lawmakers will go into a special session later this month to cut the state budget by more than a billion dollars.

Senate analysts say a gaming agreement with the Seminoles could raise as much as 500 million dollars a year.

(© 2007 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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