Seminole Casino Gambling Rejected as Florida Back to Step One

Florida lawmakers told Seminole leaders no thanks on their proposed casino gambling compact, as the legislature thinks a better deal can be found.

A state House committee unanimously rejected the compromise agreement worked out for gambling rights between Florida Governor Charlie Crist and the Seminole Tribe today. The decision means the legislature will go back to the drawing board to try to find a gambling system palatable to the Indians, state lawmakers, and horse and dog tracks around the state.

By denying the pact, legislators say the $6.8 billion or more that would have come to state coffers in exchange for exclusive table games and a restriction on slots expansions to South Florida tracks is not enough. Meanwhile, Seminole officials say their casinos will continue operating the disputed games, under a compact approved by the federal government before the state Supreme Court rejected it, until a new deal is struck.

“While the leaders of the Seminole Tribe are disappointed with today’s vote, they are optimistic that with the continued strong support of Gov. Crist, a resolution of the compact issue will ultimately be achieved," stated the Seminoles in a written statement.

Some legislators are incensed that the tribe refuses to acknowledge state authority, as it claims only federal rulings have jurisdiction on tribal land.

“The tribe is doing what it wants to do anyway, and we’re not doing anything as a state to stop them,” Representative Audrey Gibson told Jacksonville.com.

Crist issued a statement saying he still believes that the legislature will approve a deal bringing billions to Florida education, but his gambling policies have become an item of contention between him and Marco Rubio, Crist's opponent for a US Senate seat and the man who sued to disallow Crist's original arrangement over gaming with the Seminoles.