Attorneys for the Seminole Tribe of Florida recently dropped an emergency motion asking a federal judge to seal the deposition of Seminole Gaming Chief Executive Officer James Allen. His deposition was obtained by Politico from the state Department of Business and Professional Regulation through a public records request. The tribe said publication of the information could have a detrimental effect on their casino operations.
But when Politico published the interview with Allen, the key objections became clear. Allen said the tribe made $2.4 billion on its hospitality and gaming ventures, with $2.2 billion coming directly from the casinos.
The tribe dropped the request for the motion because with the publication of the information, the court “can no longer afford the tribe meaningful relief.”
Allen was deposed as part of a mutual lawsuit by the state of Florida and the tribe. At issue is whether Seminole casinos can continue to offer blackjack at their casinos. The state sued the tribe, claiming exclusivity to offer the games had expired along with the tribe’s gaming compact. The tribe also sued, claiming the state had violated the compact by allowing electronic blackjack at racetracks.
In the current motion, the tribe requested that the judge block any further release of information from the deposition until the tribe can look it over. They said state attorneys had agreed to keep the deposition contents confidential ahead of the trial, scheduled for October. In a published story, Politico said the tribe wants to edit out casino revenue information.
Another court case also could impact Florida gambling laws, brought by a racetrack in rural Gadsden County where in 2012 voters passed a referendum allowing slot machines. The state Supreme Court will decide in a case set for June 7 if the county needs legislative approval for the slots. If the court says it does not, the door could open to slots in other counties that have approved them. If the court says legislative approve is required, a proposed 2018 constitutional amendment would “ensure that Florida voters shall have the exclusive right to decide whether to authorize casino gambling.”
The group behind the he Voter Control of Gambling amendment ballot initiative, Voters In Charge, headed by John Sowinski, has gathered as of Friday, May 6, 73,810 valid signatures toward the requirement of 683,149 signatures, enough for state Attorney General Pam Bondi to asking the state Supreme Court for a review, as required by law.
“Our state’s history shows that you cannot expand gambling even a little in one place without it resulting in an explosion of gambling in another. The people of Florida should have the ultimate say when it comes to deciding on gambling expansion, not gambling industry lawyers and lobbyists,” Sowinski said. “We think it’s what voters in Florida, whether they support more gambling or not, really want is to have the voters put in charge of this question.”
