The Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation reported the Seminole Tribe paid .5 million in gambling revenue share on Monday, May 15. That money includes revenue share from blackjack offered at Tampa and Hollywood. The tribe also offers slots at its seven casinos. DBPR spokesman Stephen Lawson said the recent deposit brings the total amount paid by the Seminoles this year to .5 million.
Officially the tribe is not required to pay revenue share from blackjack games. Tribal leaders said they have been paying out of good faith, hoping the legislature eventually approves a new compact.
Lawson noted the blackjack revenue is “administratively segregated” within the General Revenue Fund until the tribe and state agree on a new compact. A blackjack provision in the 2010 compact expired in 2015. That deal brought in more than $200 million annually in revenue share to the state. In December 2015 Governor Rick Scott and the tribe agreed on a revenue share allowing the tribe exclusive blackjack rights in return for sending $3 billion to state over seven years. The deal was rejected by the legislature.
In the recently ended legislative session, lawmakers failed to pass a comprehensive gambling bill. The renewed compact, which was included in the bill, also failed as a result.
In 2016 a federal judge ruled that the state reneged on the compact by allowing other card games similar to blackjack at parimutuel cardrooms. He said the tribe could offer blackjack until 2030.
