Feds Approve Seminole Compact

The Seminole Tribe of Florida has gotten federal approval on their slot machine compact with the state of Florida. Governor Charlie Crist had worked with the tribe to bring in slot machines as well as allowing limited table gaming, but many within the state were opposed to the compact passing.

However, now the U.S. Department of Interior has approved the deal, so the revenue sharing agreement is officially a go ahead. Crist was concerned that his opponents would keep the slot machine compact from passing, but that is not the case. The compact appeared in the Federal Register on Monday.

The slot machine compact will last 25 years, and then can be renegotiated with the state. Once the approval for the slot machine compact came in, the Seminole Tribe transferred $50 million to Florida’s coffers.

The governor was thrilled with the passing of the compact, as he says that the state of Florida’s schools are in dire need of the revevnue that wil come from the slot machines. He says that although the legislature has the power to decide where those funds go, he is confident that they will put it towards the schools and the future of their state.

The tribe can now run slot machines and card games in the seven casinos that they already own on their tribal lands. This will also include the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood.

 

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