Business: Feds ready to expand Seminole gambling

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.

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by TP	09/14/07 08:41 AM
Talk about moralities.What does gambling have to do with that. Take down all the billboards that advertise women baring all. Nobody is telling people to gamble. But it's there for anybody's enjoyment.So just sign it.

by bob	09/13/07 03:53 PM
i am tired of people saying what we can and can't do due to the moralities of it...those that want to gamble WILL GAMBLE-legal or illegal...sign the damn agreement, then maybe folks from other states will start spending their money here again!

by mike	09/12/07 10:46 PM
I know lots of people who gamble at the Hard Rock,on the boats and other states.It's lot's of old people with too much money.Young people also gamble.Florida should legalize casinos in the whole state.We don't need the moralists running our lives....

by Hardin	09/12/07 10:08 PM
Having worked in the casino industry for more than 5 years in a small midwestern town, I have seen the good that revenues collected from gaming produces. Lets get on with it, approve table games and figure out ways that we can spend the extra revenue

by Mike	09/12/07 08:13 PM
The state is crazy ! Wake up and tax it to the hill. The feds are going to give it to them wake up Florida you are going crap out big time on this one !

by David	09/12/07 06:24 PM
Why are we even considering a special session about the impact of lower revenues when a simple agreement would allow Florida to continue to fund needed services for our ill and disabled citizens. DUH

by Duh	09/12/07 04:54 PM
No gambling becuase people wil spend their OWN money and possibly "lose everything." RIDICULOUS! People can make THEIR OWN CHOICES! If we are anti-gambling, let's go for alcohol nest. Then all sex. The SHOPPING! Yeah, that's it. And driving! Etc....

by John	09/12/07 04:09 PM
The FED just said this is happening whether the moral police want it or not. The only question is do we want the state to get a slice of the money? Do you honsetly think gamblers aren't gambling anyway? We tax smokers, and drinkers, why not gamblers?

by Bob	09/12/07 03:45 PM
Dr. Dug, hello. Anyone home? This is america jack. I dont need moral police telling me how I can spend my money. If someone is a gambling junkie they can do it anyway. Illegal gambling is going on now. WAKE UP. Bring in $$$ for Florida.

by Dr_Dug	09/12/07 03:26 PM
How does gambling during a budget crisis help us? Money is tight..so lets gamble more?What a joke!How are they planning to spend the xtra money?How about using the money as a bailout for high taxes and insurance instead of salaries and pork barrels.

by Dr_Dug	09/12/07 03:21 PM
Citizens are constantly told to save and spend wisely.If not,classes on economics and Bankruptcy. For our leaders,simply agree on gambling to take more money from us. What's next..more poverty while our Govt. increases thier salaries and spending.

by Dr_Dug	09/12/07 03:14 PM
Crist lied to us. He stated during his election bid that he WOULD NOT allow more gambling.With a budget crunch looming..he reconsiders.For the rest of us..its called "take a mandated economics class before filing Chapter 13". What a JOKE !!

by John	09/12/07 03:10 PM
Let's bring Florida back as #1 tourist state and legalize gambling WITH heavy taxation. Why watch OUR money take a bus to Biloxi or a Shuttle to Vegas? You want lower prop. taxes & affordable Citizens Ins? The money isn't going to make itself, folks!

by john	09/12/07 02:50 PM
Florida should tell the Seminoles to take a hike. This reservation nonsense should have died along with Custer. Florida should open its own casino's and compete the indians -- and make a lot more money in the process.

by JR	09/12/07 01:11 PM
JT the reason there's an issue is because the state is going to allow more than the Feds would, in return for the money.

by voxy	09/12/07 01:02 PM
oh and GOOD ONE, DB. It has nothing to do with morals but the misleading of the money for the state. They'll bring up the children next. It's all for the children.

by voxy	09/12/07 01:01 PM
in the last week i have received 10 offers to gamble in the mail.(unsolicited) There is already a gamb-anon started. Moral high ground? I think not. Safeguarding the citizens from the predators. But it's gonna happen anyway. YAY I"LL BE RICH RICH

by Al	09/12/07 11:51 AM
If this compact deal does not happen how do the Republican entend to tell the people of Florida that they will need to increase personal taxes in the future. I wonder what our senior population will think of our Republican leaders then!

by Vincent	09/12/07 09:57 AM
Just look at the Lotto sales, people will gamble. Rubio is unwashed in his thinking. Let freedom ring and let me do with my money as I want.

by Bruce	09/12/07 09:19 AM
Gambling is wrong not matter how you cut it, try NM and Vegas, how many people have lost everything because of gambling. Where does all this money end up, the state lottery is supposed to put millions for education. Where is it? By all means gamble.

by big Al v.	09/12/07 09:07 AM
sounds like its time to legalize casinos and get some real revenue, billions not millions. enuff of this talk of 150-250 million...chump change.

by JT	09/12/07 09:06 AM
Let us see here. Slots are inevitable. Sign the agreement and the state gets $100 million; don't sign ... zippo. Why is there any discussion? Moral highground? Pleeeze! Make the deal!

by Howard	09/12/07 08:30 AM
Come on DB..It is governemt once again protecting ME from ME. Check out the number of Florida license plates in Mississippi casinos. We are losing millions because some legislators believe we need them to tell us how to think and act. King Rubio?!?!?

by GP	09/12/07 08:22 AM
Let's make legal. People will gamble with or without real Vegas Slots. So let's get it done, so we can start having a fighting chance to win some money.

by Tom	09/12/07 08:17 AM
DB...what are you talking about. Rubio and the repuglican "Moral Police" need to take that crap somewhere else. Casino gambling is legal via indian casinos in probably 1/3 of all states. We can bring in millions for florida. Rubio is a puppet

by Ray	09/12/07 08:16 AM
Republican Hypocrisy - they want to cut taxes for the Rich because "It's your money" yet they do not trust you with "Your money" as far as it pertains to gambling.

by Wayne	09/12/07 05:42 AM
Hey Rubio, maybe we shouldn't support the Republican leaders anymore. Why wouldn't you want additional income for the State? You probably go out-of-state to secretly gamble. Typical Republicans. Do what's good for Florida and GET THIS DEAL DONE.

by Richard	09/12/07 04:58 AM
Let's see, The State has the chance to make a compact with the Seminole tribe that would bring in MILLIONS of revenue. If they don't the Feds will give approval for the expansion and the State gets ZILTCH.Rubio is for ZILTCH. Get rid of Rubio!

by DB	09/12/07 04:35 AM
It's a slippery slope - what does this teach our children ? The money received makes it right ? There's a cost for our souls and convictions? Why should we hold others accountable when we sell ourselves for a price - is this not like a streetwalker

Feds ready to expand Seminole gambling

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