Florida Casino Gambling Pact Brings Strange Allies Together
Although it may have seemed the situation concerning Florida's disputed casino gambling compact with the Seminoles was solved when Governor Charlie Crist negotiated a settlement with the tribe, key legislators are primed to block the advance of the accord. Interestingly, lawmakers totally opposed to gambling are now saying they favor open gambling throughout the state, as determined by counties, rather than an exclusive deal limiting gaming largely to Seminole casinos.The agreement reached between the governor and tribal representatives gives exclusive table gaming to the Seminoles in the state, and also makes slots an exclusive property with the exception of Broward and Dade counties, the two locales that approved racino slot gambling. In return, the tribe would pay Florida a sum starting at $150 million a year.
But some legislators are saying that, while they were once vehemently anti-gambling, they now believe there should be even more gaming than the tribal deal allows, thus compelling them to vote against passage of the deal.
“As anti-gaming as I was, it’s here, and it’s not going away,” said Rep. Ellyn Bogdanoff, a Fort Lauderdale Republican. “You go to Plan B, which is free market.”
The wave of sudden support for even more expansion in casinos and gambling has some observers wondering if the move is just a ploy to keep the Seminole legislation from passing. Gaming foes may temporarily ally with free market gambling fans, only to desert them once the potential compact is dead.
Lawmakers are asking themselves if any plan to allow more open gaming law relaxation might generate enough revenue to stand up against the massive sums promised by the Seminoles.
