Rescue gambling deal by working
with both pari-mutuels and Seminoles

By Steve Geller
Florida State Senator
Copyright © 2008, South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Saturday, August 16, 2008

Gov. Charlie Crist signed a controversial gaming compact with the Seminole Tribe. Despite requests from me and other lawmakers to include the Florida Legislature in the negotiations, the governor claimed the exclusive right to negotiate and enter into the agreement with the Seminoles.

The Legislature sued; the governor lost.

The Florida Supreme Court opinion is not final, but once it is, the Seminoles would be forced to stop their new card games and Class III slot machines. The matter should not end there.

We could do nothing, and eventually the federal government would shut down all Class III gambling on the reservations, but this is not an option. The tribe has the right under federal law to the same type of slot machines already legal at the pari-mutuels in Broward and Miami-Dade counties. We should permit them to have Class III slots, even if we cannot tax them.

The governor could unilaterally try again to give the tribe Class III slots. This would be a terrible mistake, as I believe he doesn't have this right under state law. The state could negotiate a new limited compact for Class III slots, with the state receiving enough tax revenue to cover the cost of regulation.

I believe the most desirable option, particularly considering our current economy, would be to negotiate a compact that would give the Seminoles the same type of gambling that Crist authorized, while raising additional revenue by giving additional types of gambling to the pari-mutuels.

Allow the tribe Class III gambling. Permit the pari-mutuels in Broward and Miami-Dade counties to have the same gambling as the Seminoles but at a higher tax rate, and finally, other pari-mutuels within 50 miles of Indian casinos Class II video lottery terminals to keep them in business as well. We could also authorize Class II video lottery terminals by local vote in the rest of the state.

Under this plan, the state would fulfill its moral duty to the tribe by giving them the gambling entitled under federal law, and raise between $600 million and $1 billion annually in new revenue, which the state so desperately needs.

Steve Geller is the minority leader of the Florida Senate and past national president of the National Council of Legislators From Gaming States.