Governor Charlie Crist is not about to give up on his fight and get the gambling compact with the Seminole Tribe reinstated. On July 18th, 2008, Governor Crist and the Seminole Tribe have petitioned the state Supreme Court to reconsider their decision invalidating the gambling compact. The chances that Crist and the Seminole Tribe actually persuading the Supreme Court are slim.
Governor Crist and the Seminole Tribe finalized the gaming compact between last year that gave the green light to the Seminole Tribe to launch Class III slot machines. The gaming compact also permitted the Seminole Tribe to offer card games like baccarat to their Florida casino facilities. As payment for the permission to expand their gaming offering, the Seminole Tribe will pay a substantial amount of money to the state as initial payment and they would also give the state a portion of their revenues.
House Speaker Marco Rubio opposed the gaming compact because he was offended when he was left out of the whole gaming compact issue, so he filed a case against it. They received a small victory when the Florida Supreme Court decided to invalidate the gambling compact. But with the way things are going on, Marco Rubio and the other critics of the gaming compact will be on the losing end.
The Seminole Tribe are now asking for federal help that will help them offer the same games that are stated on the gambling compact. Once the Seminole Tribe has received the permission of the federal government, they can begin offering different games legally but the difference is that Florida will not receive any profits from the earnings of the tribe.
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