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Vegas slots ready to roll in Hollywood

The Seminole Tribe's casino in South Florida will unveil the new machines Monday.

By By STEVE HUETTEL
Published January 25, 2008

The Seminole Tribe will start operating nearly 1,000 Las Vegas-style slots at a South Florida casino Monday, days before the state Supreme Court hears arguments on a challenge to the deal that legalized the machines.

The tribe ordered machines after the U.S. Interior Department on Jan. 7 approved a compact signed by Gov. Charlie Crist that allows the new slots and card games, including blackjack. Seminole officials had said it would take months before the machines were ready.

They were surprised the new slots, the first of what could be as many as 15,000 at seven casinos, were available so quickly at the Seminole Hard Rock Casino in Hollywood, spokesman Gary Bitner said.

He didn't say when the slots will come to the Seminole Hard Rock Casino in Tampa. "Tampa's a priority, but I can't pinpoint which casino will be the next one,"Bitner said.

House Speaker Marco Rubio, R-West Miami, sued Crist in November, saying he overstepped his authority by making the deal without legislative approval. The Supreme Court will hear oral arguments Wednesday.

"This represents a reversal of what the tribe said not very long ago," said Jill Chamberlin, a spokeswoman for Rubio.

Attorney General Bill McCollum, who opposes gambling but is not a party to the suit, said the tribe's move to install new slots is precisely what he tried to stop by suing to block the federal Department of the Interior from sanctioning the compact. A federal judge turned down his request.

"Today's news, while disappointing, is not surprising," he said in a prepared statement. "I encourage the Florida Supreme Court to take into consideration the statements and actions by the parties involved."

As soon as Interior's decision was final, the Seminoles wired the state $50-million, half of Florida's share of gambling revenue for the first year.

"The tribe is entitled to a return on that," said Barry Richard, an attorney for the Seminoles. "The tribe has the right to go forward until a court with jurisdiction tells them otherwise."

Tribal casinos now offer bingo-based machines, on which players compete against one another instead of the casino.

Broward County race tracks started offering the upgraded slots 14 months ago. Voters in Miami-Dade County vote Tuesday on whether to allow the machines at tracks there.

The Seminoles would operate the state's first legal blackjack and baccarat under the compact. Bitner said it will be "months" before casinos can get the equipment, hire and train enough dealers. But the tribe has the right to start the games until a court rules against them, Richard said.

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

Is Tampa next?

"Tampa's a priority," Seminole Tribe spokesman Gary Bitner said, but he couldn't say exactly when Vegas-style slots might arrive.

[Last modified January 24, 2008, 22:52:36]