James E. Billie, Chairman of the Seminole Tribe of Florida, notified Gov. Rick Scott that the tribe would keep on offering blackjack and other table games at its venues, despite the fact that its compact with the state is to expire on July 31.
After it became clear that the agreement would not be renewed, it seemed that the Seminoles would be asked to drop the games that contributed significantly to turning the tribe’s properties into some of the most desired gambling destinations in the state.
However, tribal officials argued that they could keep offering the games to their visitors, as the state has supposedly violated the compact by allowing tracks across South Florida to feature electronic card games. Yet, the tribe is not planning to stop its annual payments of $216 million to the state or at least not for now. Mr. Billie said in a 5-page letter to Gov. Scott that Florida has 30 days to resolve the dispute.
Gov. Scott has not responded to the tribal request yet. According to Sen. Rob Bradley, who heads the committee responsible for the regulation of gambling across the state, legislators had not violated the agreement. He also called the letter a “predictable move” that aimed at renewing stalled negotiations between the involved parties. Sen. Bradley was among the lawmakers that tried to extend the agreement for another year.
The Seminoles and the state inked the compact back in 2010. Under it, the tribe was authorized to provide blackjack and other table game at its properties across Florida. Furthermore, the agreement guaranteed that the casinos in question would contribute more than $1 billion to the state coffers. As mentioned above, it is set to expire next month. Yet, the tribe will have three more months to stop providing the games.
Last year, Gov. Scott tried to negotiate an extension of the compact but failed. This year, it was legislators’ turn to try to solve the issue. Yet, they adjourned both their regular and additional legislative sessions without reaching any agreement with the tribe.
According to documents, obtained by local media, Gov. Scott was among the legislators that wanted the compact extended. He also called for the addition of roulette and craps at the tribe’s South Florida properties. Those documents also contained information that Gov. Scott intended to allow the Seminoles to build a casino on the Fort Pierce reservation.
If an agreement for this venue had been reached, the state would have blocked the construction of non-tribal Las Vegas-styled gambling venues in Miami for the period of seven years. In addition, the tribal casino would have contributed $2 billion to Florida.
