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The Florida House and Senate has finally passed SB 788, bringing Governor Charlie Crist one step closer to closing a gaming deal with the Seminole Tribe.  Governor Crist has been delayed for some time with the negotiating the details of allowing the Tribe to operate both blackjack tables and slot machines at their various casinos throughout the state.

SB 788 creates a guideline for the new gaming compact and then gives Governor Christ the authority to hammer out the final details.  A year and a half ago Crist created a compact with the Seminole tribe that was challenged in the Supreme Court, Crist was not permitted to close the deal.

Under the old compact the tribe was permitted to install slot machines and blackjack tables in all of their casino venues and would have to pay the state of Florida a minimum of $100 million each year.

The new deal on the table is very similar but not quite as good for the tribe as the 2007 compact. The tribe will be only permitted to offer blackjack and other card games at their major casinos which include three in Broward County and the Hard Rock casino in Tampa.  However they will be allowed to install slot machines in all seven of their gambling venues.

If this new compact is agreed upon by both the tribe and the state, the tax dollars will be dedicated to the Florida school system.

“Today, we move closer to reaching an agreement that will support education, put unemployed Floridians back to work and bring economic relief to our state,” read a statement released by the Seminole Tribe.

“We remain hopeful that together with Gov. Crist and the Legislature, we can agree upon a Compact.”

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