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Feds ready to expand Seminole gambling

If that happens, the state would lose its cut of tribe revenue.

By STEVE HUETTEL, Times Staff Writer
Published September 12, 2007

Interior Department officials told Florida Gov. Charlie Crist's top lieutenants Tuesday that their boss will give the Seminole Tribe expanded casino gambling if the state fails to work out a deal, an attorney for the tribe said.

Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne has delayed acting while the two sides negotiate, agency officials said at a Washington, D.C., meeting with Seminole leaders and Crist's representatives, according to attorney Barry Richard, who took part by conference call.

But they said if Kempthorne believes an agreement won't happen, "he'll do what he's required to do by law," said Richard.

Under federal law, tribes are entitled to whatever games states sanction elsewhere. That means the Seminoles could offer Las Vegas-style slot machines - now in use at three Broward County race tracks - at its seven casinos, including the Seminole Hard Rock Casino near Tampa. Without a state agreement, called a compact, Florida wouldn't get a share of the tribe's revenues.

Crist and the tribe are believed to be on the verge of a compact that would let the Seminoles offer not only upgraded slots to replace video bingo machines, but also the state's first legal casino games of blackjack and baccarat. The deal would give the state a minimum of $100-million in annual revenue and perhaps as much as $200-million.

Richard said Kempthorne's office was "more explicit and emphatic" about pushing the state toward a deal than ever before. A spokesman for Crist didn't take issue with the statement.

Interior officials didn't go as far publicly. "If the compact somehow is not submitted to us, we'd have to make a decision" on allowing expanded gaming, George Skibine, director of Indian Gaming Affairs for the department, said in an interview Tuesday.

He said the state and the tribe expect to complete a compact within 10 days. Officials discussed a letter from House Speaker Marco Rubio, R-Miami, telling Crist that Republican leaders didn't support expanding gambling in Florida by giving card games to the Seminoles. Interior officials should set a deadline soon for the state to wrap up a deal, Skibine said.

Steve Huettel can be reached at huettel@sptimes.com or (813) 226-3384.

[Last modified September 11, 2007, 22:37:00]