RSS 2.0 FeedVol. 3, No. 10, October 2007, Global Gaming Roundup
Florida compact could be in trouble
The Florida House could hammer a likely Seminole tribal gaming compact all out of shape to appease anti-gaming conservatives while the state’s parimutuel business pounds the competitive advantages out of the pact from the sidelines, some observers say.
How the politics plays out depends on whether Florida Governor Charlie Crist follows his stated inclination to have the legislature ratify the compact he and the tribe have been negotiating for about five months. It reportedly would allow Class III slot machines and probably some casino card games at the seven casinos where Seminole runs thousands of Class II bingo machines.
The state’s law is unclear about the need for legislative action on what would be the first gaming compact between a Florida governor and an Indian tribe. Slots were illegal until voters changed the state constitution in 2004, and states are not obligated under federal law to negotiate Indian-reservation gaming that is illegal elsewhere in the state. Anti-gaming groups are now in court trying to overturn the slots authorization, too. If they win, that could turn any compact into a futile exercise.
If the legislature does consider a Seminole agreement, as conservative gaming foe and House Speaker Marco Rubio wishes, “It at least gives us a venue,” says Ken Plante, a lobbyist for the Tampa Bay Downs racetrack. “Right now, we’re not part of anything that’s going on with the governor and the Indians.”
Only three racetracks and a jai alai fronton in Broward County have won local approval to run slots. Tampa Bay Downs and other parimutuel venues join those four in fearing a drain on betting handle in the face of more popular slot machines. Already, the Seminole’s Vegas-like Broward bingo casinos are blamed for lackluster slots revenue at the three racinos.
How the politics plays out depends on whether Florida Governor Charlie Crist follows his stated inclination to have the legislature ratify the compact he and the tribe have been negotiating for about five months. It reportedly would allow Class III slot machines and probably some casino card games at the seven casinos where Seminole runs thousands of Class II bingo machines.
The state’s law is unclear about the need for legislative action on what would be the first gaming compact between a Florida governor and an Indian tribe. Slots were illegal until voters changed the state constitution in 2004, and states are not obligated under federal law to negotiate Indian-reservation gaming that is illegal elsewhere in the state. Anti-gaming groups are now in court trying to overturn the slots authorization, too. If they win, that could turn any compact into a futile exercise.
If the legislature does consider a Seminole agreement, as conservative gaming foe and House Speaker Marco Rubio wishes, “It at least gives us a venue,” says Ken Plante, a lobbyist for the Tampa Bay Downs racetrack. “Right now, we’re not part of anything that’s going on with the governor and the Indians.”
Only three racetracks and a jai alai fronton in Broward County have won local approval to run slots. Tampa Bay Downs and other parimutuel venues join those four in fearing a drain on betting handle in the face of more popular slot machines. Already, the Seminole’s Vegas-like Broward bingo casinos are blamed for lackluster slots revenue at the three racinos.
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