The Florida legislative session ended March 11 and lawmakers did not ratify a proposed gaming compact with the Seminole Tribe of Florida, which would have granted the tribe exclusivity to offer blackjack, plus roulette and craps, in exchange for billion over seven years. “The tribe is going to take time to carefully consider all of its options,” said Seminole spokesman Gary Bitner.
One of those options will be for the tribe to continue to offer blackjack, baccarat and other table games at its five casinos, as outlined in a 2010 compact. In 2007 the tribe and then-Governor Charlie Crist negotiated a compact for blackjack which was voided by the courts, ruling the legislature also must approve the compact. The tribe had begun offering the games and paying the state around $200 million annually, which it continued to do while the courts and the legislature came to terms in 2010.
Steve Geller, former Florida state Senator and former president of the National Council of Legislators from Gaming States, said, “I think they’ll do exactly what they did last time,” meaning the tribe will continue to pay the state as a sign of good faith that an agreement will be reached. However, in the meantime, tribal officials said thousands of employees may be laid off.
Geller said the big issue now is the Florida Supreme Court’s July hearing concerning allowing slots at Gretna Racing, which could permit slots in six counties where voters have approved them. If Gretna Racing wins, the state can no longer promise the Seminoles slot exclusivity outside of South Florida. “And I think next year, more likely than not, if the Supreme Court rules by fall on the Gretna case, then you have the conditions for a compact,” Geller said.
The Orlando-based anti-gambling group No Casinos also has an interest in the Gretna Racing case. President John Sowinski said, “If the court returns a ruling in the Gretna case that does not make Florida voters the ultimate authority over gambling decisions, we are prepared to move forward to put the initiative on the 2018 ballot.”
He’s referring to the proposed Voter Control of Gambling constitutional amendment, which would give residents statewide the authority to approve non-tribal casino gambling. The petition drive has reached more than 10 percent of the 683,149 total signatures required for review by the state Supreme Court. The amendment “ensures that Florida voters shall have the exclusive right to decide whether to authorize casino gambling by requiring that in order for casino gambling to be authorized under Florida law, it must be approved by Florida voters pursuant to Article XI, Section 3 of the Florida Constitution.”
Voter Control claimed 72 percent of Floridians believe the state has too much or just enough gambling,” a news release stated. However, in another poll, conducted March 4-6 for the Tampa Bay news outlet baynews9/news13 by SurveyUSA, 53 percent of 2,450 likely voters favored legalizing casino gambling in the state; 34 percent opposed it and 14 percent were unsure.
The results are nearly the same as a poll conducted in late December by Tampa Bay Times/10News WTSP, indicating 45 percent favored and 44 percent opposed expanded gambling in Pinellas and Hillsborough counties.
Republican political analyst Chris Ingram said expanded gambling is an issue lawmakers “would love to have never have decided because every year the issue is not decided means it’s going to be brought up the next year and the powers that be on both sides will continue to make their bank accounts flush with cash.”
