Plan to shut down Seminole card games passes Florida House
Measure scales back Seminole compact signed by Gov. Charlie Crist in 2007
By Josh Hafenbrack
Sun-Sentienel Staff Writer
Copyright © 2009, South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
TALLAHASSEE: Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood would have 90 days to shut down its blackjack tables and return to a slots-only casino, under legislation approved by the House on Tuesday.
The House passed a measure, 84-27, that would scale back the Seminole compact signed by Gov. Charlie Crist in 2007. While it would require the tribe to shut down blackjack games, the proposal gives them exclusive statewide rights to Vegas-style slots outside Broward and Miami-Dade counties. Voters approved slots at non-tribal casinos in those two counties.
The Seminoles would have to pay the state $100 million a year under the House plan, although it's not certain that the tribe would agree to those terms.
Meanwhile, the chamber Tuesday approved a related bill letting pari-mutuel facilities, such as dog tracks and jai-alai frontons, expand their poker rooms with around-the-clock hours and higher betting limits. South Florida racinos also would get a lower tax rate on slots profits, to better compete with largely untaxed Indian casinos.
"This is a very reasonable, conservative approach," said state Rep. Bill Galvano, R-Bradenton, who authored the gambling package.
The House vote sets up down-to-the-wire negotiations between the two houses of the Legislature, which have vastly different approaches to gambling. The Senate plan would expand the governor's 2007 Indian gambling deal to allow Seminoles' resorts to have blackjack, craps and roulette.
The gambling issue figures prominently into legislative talks over the budget. The House plan would produce $373 million to ease next year's budget crunch. The Senate's casino plan is richer : $568 million.
House passes new gambling agreement
By Sara Kennedy
skennedy@bradenton.com
© 2009 Bradenton.com
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
The state House of Representatives on Tuesday approved legislation that outlines new terms for a gambling agreement with the Seminole Tribe of Florida and provides more competitive options for pari-mutuel businesses such as dog and horse tracks.
The bills would require the Seminoles to halt card games such as blackjack and baccarat at their casinos, but would allow them exclusive rights to operate slots in counties that don’t already have them.
“I always worried that this issue scares people,” said state Rep. Bill Galvano, R-Bradenton, chairman of the House Select Committee on Seminole Indian Compact Review. “And we have a conservative approach, and one I felt was very reasonable, and one that did not full-on expand gambling.
“That’s why I believe the members were able to, in a significant majority, support it,” he added after the vote in Tallahassee.
The vote was 84-27 on the Compact Review legislation.
The Tribe is encouraged by the House vote, spokesman Gary Bitner said.
“They’re very hopeful the details can be worked out with the Senate for ultimate approval,” he added.
Under terms of the plan, pari-mutuel businesses such as the Sarasota Kennel Club could become more competitive through extended hours and higher wagering limits. Others that currently operate slot machines would enjoy a reduced tax rate tied to a minimum annual payment under the plan.
“We’re looking at getting money from the Tribe without diminishing money coming in from our pari-mutuels,” Galvano said. “It’s really a challenge to our pari-mutuels to invest in our economy and create jobs without expanding games in Florida.”
The House agreement would require the Seminoles to guarantee annual revenues to the state of $100 million, but the arrangement could generate much more than the minimum, up to an estimated $373 million annually, said Galvano. In addition, the plan calls for existing pari-mutuels to guarantee revenue payments of another $132.9 million annually to the state, he said.
The House version differs considerably from that of the Senate, which would allow a wholesale expansion of gaming. A conference committee will try to reconcile measures passed by the two chambers before the end of the session May 1.
Asked what the prognosis for agreement might be, Galvano replied, “I remain an optimist. I think there are areas we can agree and make some progress.”
Legislators are reviewing the compact between the state and the Seminole Tribe, owner of seven casinos. The nearest one to Manatee County is 40 miles north in Tampa. The courts voided a 2007 agreement negotiated by Gov. Charlie Crist on grounds he exceeded his authority.