Florida AG sues to stop Seminole compact
December 20th, 2007
Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum sued the Bush administration today to stop review of the Seminole Tribe’s Class III gaming compact.Â
This seems a little odd since the Governor signed the compact just last month.Â
The compact has been sent to the Bureau of Indian Affairs for approval. McCollum wants the agency to wait until the state Supreme Court can rule on a challenge to the agreement. Gov. Charlie Crist (R) signed the compact last month. It allows the tribe to operate slot machines and card games like blackjack and baccarat. The state will get a share of the revenues from these games. State files suit to halt Seminole gaming compact (AP 12/20)
December 24th, 2007 22:03
Is it possile to rue the compact which is already signed?
December 23rd, 2009 10:09
This is similar to a situation in the state of Connecticut. The most recent tribe to file for federal recognition, the Schaghticokes, ended up being sued by the state Attorney General, Richard Blumenthal; and then strong armed by a lobbying group in DC paid for by a citizen’s action group that formed in the vicinity of their tribal lands. Not surprisingly, they lost their bid for recognition.
It’s important to clarify what the Schaghticokes were after: Federal recoginition and a gaming compact with the state of CT similar to the current agreements that allow the Uncas Mohegans and Mashuntucket Pequots to operate Foxwoods. This would be strictly casino gaming, no sports betting (online or offline), as currently enjoyed by the Kahnawake tribe in Canada. While there is a certain level of angst in the USA against bookmaking, there is generally a higher level of acceptance for casino gaming.