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Editorial
Crist signs gambling expansion bill
Jun 16, 2009
JAMES A SMITH SR.
Executive Editor

To no one’s surprise, Gov. Charlie Crist signed SB 788, the massive expansion of gambling passed by the Legislature on the last day of its extended session in May. The governor is now empowered to negotiate a deal with the Seminole Indian Tribe by Aug. 31, 2009, which will have to be ratified by the Legislature.

To the surprise of some, however, the Seminole Tribe is not happy with the deal, according to several news
accounts.

Once again emphasizing the supposed benefit to public education, Crist signed the legislation June 15 at Miami’s Design & Architecture High School.

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“I am grateful to the Florida Legislature and the Seminole Tribe of Florida for their desire to provide much-needed funds for the children of our state,” Crist said at the bill-signing ceremony, according to a news release from his office. “A ratified agreement will provide much-needed revenue that can help us develop world-class schools throughout the Sunshine State.”

The gambling bill is comprised of two components—the outline of an agreement (or “compact”) with the tribe and various provisions to benefit the state’s struggling pari-mutuel gambling industry. The pari-mutuel provisions do not become law, however, if there is no ratified Seminole compact.

The main elements of the law include:

For the Seminole Compact:

•All seven Seminole casinos would be permitted to operate Class III, Las Vegas-style slot machines.

•Seminoles to get to keep exclusive rights to blackjack, chemin de fer and baccarat at it’s Hard Rock Casinos in Hillsborough and Broward counties.

•Banked games would not be allowed at other facilities.

•The tribe can offer no-limit poker at all seven of its
reservations.

•The money would go into the state’s Education Enhancement Trust Fund.

•The Seminoles would guarantee a minimum to state of $150 million per year, 12 percent of their earnings up to $2.5 billion.

•The 15-year deal permits the Tribe to seek additional games after five years.

For the pari-mutuels:

•Pari-mutuels could get thousands of video lottery terminals, or VLTs, which are bingo-style slot machines upon a separate approval from the Legislature and passage of local county voter referendums.

•Horse and dog tracks around the state would be able to offer no-limit poker.

•Pari-mutuel racetracks and jai-alai frontons in Dade and Broward counties will have a lower tax rate on slot machines, no-limit poker and nighttime thoroughbred racing. The new rate would be reduced to 35 percent from 50 percent.

•Hialeah Race Track can re-open with card rooms and very limited quarter horse racing.

According to several news accounts, the Seminoles are balking at the compact requirements adopted by the Legislature, especially the amount of money required from the tribe.

Florida Baptist Convention legislative consultant Bill Bunkley predicted this possible outcome, hoping it may scuttle the entire expansion.

“It certainly would come as welcome news if the Seminoles deem this agreement to be inappropriate, although from a totally different perspective from mine,” Bunkley told me June 15.

What cannot be lost in the confusing, complicated legal and political issues surrounding this law are the harmful effects of gambling expansion.

Raymond James, pastor of East Chelsea Baptist Church in Tampa, located a half mile from one of the Seminole casinos, sees first-hand the devastating impact of gambling in the people who come to his church looking for help.

“Women come to us saying they’re afraid to go home because they’ve spent the family money at the casino,” James told Tampa’s ABC Action News on June 15.

It is truly evil that the state is depending on making its citizens losers to balance the budget.

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