Seminole Tribe sues state over card games

The compact between the Seminoles and the state had a five-year provision that allowed the tribe to hold banked card games exclusively at five of the tribe’s seven casinos.

The governor was then pointedly asked if he was prepared to seek enforcement of the agreement, which could mean USA marshals going onto tribal land and into casinos to seize tables, cards and other game-playing equipment. The tribe and the state have been in mediation.

Under the pact, the tribe agreed to pay the state a share of its revenues in exchange for a monopoly to operate both Vegas-style slot machines and the banked games.

The lawsuit alleges that the state failed to negotiate in good faith by demanding that the tribe agree to modifications of other portions of the compact “to substantially increase the tribe’s payments to the state”. “We’re going to do the right thing for the state”.

In a statement Monday, James E. Billie, chairman of the Seminole Tribe of Florida, said there has been “significant progress” in the negotiations with Gov. Rick Scott and leaders of the Florida Legislature on finalizing a new agreement.

Commenting on the lawsuit, the Seminole Tribe said in a Monday statement that it had to bring the matter to court in order to protect the interests of the 3,100 people employed at its casinos as well as those of their families.

Hillsborough County Commissioner Victor Crist, a former state legislator with contacts in Tallahassee, said the state is also keeping outside gambling interests from setting up shop in the Sunshine State. The Sunshine State still doesn’t have commercial gambling, but it does allow racetracks including greyhound facilities to offer slots, poker, and electronic games including roulette and blackjack. The right to offer banked games for five years expired this summer, but came with a 90-day grace period that concludes on October 29.

Per documents obtained by the Associated Press, Scott was willing to extend the contract and allow the Seminoles to add roulette and craps in exchange for $2 billion. The tribe has shared more than $1 billion with the state since signing the agreement. But the tribe is also moving forward with a lawsuit.

Barry Richard, an attorney for the tribe, said that they will continue offering those games but considered it appropriate to bring the matter to court.

“Nevertheless, the tribe today filed suit, according to the remedies spelled out in the Seminole Compact and the federal Indian Gaming Regulatory Act”.

Crist called the lawsuit a “formality” and said a new agreement likely will be signed before the end of the year so it can be taken up by the Legislature in January.