Gaming Compact Signed for Class III

By Chris Jenkins

TALLAHASSEE — It was another big day for the Tribe on Nov. 14, and just in time. Facing a Nov. 15 deadline, the Seminole Tribe of Florida, the state of Florida, officials for the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the federal government finally reached an accord.

The groups came to an agreement on a 25 year compact to allow the much-anticipated Class III Las Vegas-style slot machines, which were actually approved in 2005, and banked card gaming, including black jack and baccarat, at Tribal gaming facilities and on Tribal lands. The Class III provisions are limited to the seven existing Seminole Tribe casinos: Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa, Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood, Seminole Casino Immokalee, Seminole Casino Big Cypress, Seminole Casino Brighton, Seminole Casino Hollywood and the Coconut Creek Casino.

“This compact is good for the Seminole Tribe, the state of Florida and the people of Florida,” asserted Hollywood Council Representative Max Osceola Jr. “This will provide income for the state of Florida without raising taxes for the citizens.”

Osceola added that he supports Governor Crist’s request to the Florida Legislature for the majority of the revenue to be allocated to education. Crist has asked that 95 percent be earmarked for education with the remaining 5 percent going toward local governments. Osceola applauded the Governor for working with the Tribe to achieve an agreement that has been in the works since 1991.

Executive Assistant to Chairman Mitchell Cypress and Fort Pierce Liaison S.R. Tommie said the progress has been worth the wait.

“I think this is just another milestone in the day in the life of our Tribal members,” she said. “It was a 16 year wait for this day to come.”

Under the agreement, the Tribe will incorporate a payment schedule, paying the State of Florida a percentage of their gaming revenue, and make guarantees of minimum annual payments. This is subject to approval by the federal government.

The Tribe will benefit from this agreement because the state will not allow competing casinos from opening anywhere besides Miami-Dade and Broward Counties.

Other agreements in the deal include: provisions for smoke-free gaming, patrons must be 21 years and older, submittal of revenues to independent annual financial auditors, maintaining a legal process for compensating patrons for injuries, ensuring consumer protection through compliance standards and procedures and six no-limit poker tournaments played each year, with 70 percent of the profits designated toward charitable organizations.