Seminoles Suing Over Slot Machines

With old Governor Jeb Bush out of the way, the Seminoles might actually get their Class III slot machines that they have been waiting for. New Governor Charlie Crist is trying to get the negotiations toward a slot machine compact with the Seminoles re-opened so that they can try to gain some ground in the negotiations, and perhaps some slot machine revenue.

Crist made his offer on January 8th, and the tribe still went to federal court asking them to force the Department of the Interior to approve the slot machines for the tribe. The tribe claims it needs the slot machines more than it did before, because that is their source of income for the tribe. Their source of income from the slot machines is “threatened” because of the slot machines that are allowed in Broward County.

The tribe currently has Class II slot machines, and they became legally entitled to Class III slot machines – Vegas style slot machines – once they were legalized in Broward County. The difference is in the money, for Class II slot machines the player plays each other, and Class III slot machines they play the house which means they pay out better.

However, if the Interior chooses to approve the Class III slot machines and bypass the state in the approval process, the tribe will not have to pay the state and the state will have no rights as far as limiting the number of slot machines they are allowed. Crist sent a letter to the federal court asking them to hold off on their decision about the slot machines until he has had a chance to work with the tribe to come to some sort of mutually beneficial agreement.

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