Florida looking for negotiations in the Seminole tribe gambling options

The Seminole tribe and Gov. Charlie Christ have begun negotiations over what type of gambling options the tribe could offer at its casinos in Florida.

Osceola from the Seminole Tribe A positive outcome from the talks could lead to a cut from the profits for the state, and the options for the seven Seminole casinos in Florida to replace their bingo-style slot machines with Las Vegas style ones, and maybe utilize table games, as well. Currently the state receives no money from the tribe's gambling profits.

When the Broward County's pari-mutuels opened its casino with Las Vegas style slots, the Seminole tribe filed a lawsuit asking to be allowed to use Las Vegas style slots without state compact, which would mean no profit sharing with the state of Florida. According to federal law, the tribes are entitled to operate gambling at the same level permitted anywhere else in the state, therefore negotiations were quickly undertaken by the state's officials.

The Seminole tribe recently became the first American Indian tribe to buy a global gambling company with their purchase of the Hard Rock International for $965 million from the U.K.'s Rank Group PLC in March. The tribe is also the first one to offer high stakes gambling in the country when they opened a bingo hall in Florida in 1979. Many could also recall the famous "Osceola" book by Mayne Reid, which portraits the legendary Seminole warrior with the same name.

04/13/2007