Governor, Seminoles sign new gambling compact

Florida Baptists urged to communicate opposition to agreement

Sep 8, 2009
JAMES A SMITH SR.
Executive Editor

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TALLAHASSEE (FBW)—A new gambling compact with the Seminole Indian Tribe was announced Aug. 31, with Gov. Charlie Crist estimating the agreement will result in $6.8 billion over 20 years for the State of Florida.

The new compact was negotiated under provisions of legislation passed by the Legislature and signed by the governor at the conclusion of the 2009 legislative session. The governor’s 2007 compact with the Seminoles was voided by the Florida Supreme Court last year, ruling the governor did not have the authority to act without the Legislature’s approval.

“Over the last two months my administration has in good faith negotiated with the Seminole Tribe of Florida a compact that will reap financial benefit to the people of Florida,” Crist said in a statement. “The revenue sharing between the Tribe and the State will enable the State of Florida to invest in the future of Florida’s children.”

Bill Bunkley, legislative consultant for the Florida Baptist Convention, is concerned about the new agreement, telling Florida Baptist Witness, it is “very apparent” the Seminoles “are making a bold move, with their money waving in their hands serving up a great temptation for Tallahassee lawmakers.”
Bunkley said the “two top troubling issues” in the new deal are provisions which allow the tribe to have Blackjack and other Class III games at all seven of its casinos, rather than the three permitted by the Legislature, and designating the Department of Revenue for regulatory oversight, rather than the Division of Pari-Mutuel Wagering.

The new agreement “greatly expands” the compact approved by the Legislature, Bunkley said, predicting a fight between “old money” pari-mutuels with longstanding relationships in the Legislature and “new money” Seminoles “with a much bigger pot of money to sell.”

Bunkley observed: “Will the Legislature cave once again to the big gambling interests? Who knows. What’s certain, the next 4-6 weeks will be a huge tug of war for sure.”

According to various news reports, a special legislative session is expected during the month of October to consider the new compact, which the Legislature must ratify under provisions of the law authorizing the governor to negotiate the compact.

“Florida Baptists should be on the phone, writing emails and visiting their state senators and representatives with a very simple message: ‘Just say NO’ to this new Seminole Indian compact,” Bunkley said.

Although Crist said he looks forward to working with the Legislature to ratify the compact, one legislative leader expressed concerns the new agreement goes beyond the conditions previously outlined by the Legislature.

Rep. Bill Galvano, R-Bradenton, a lead gambling negotiator for the Florida House of Representatives, told the Miami Herald, “There are some concerns.”

Among the “red flags” for Galvano, according to the Herald, was the authorization of banked games at all the Seminoles casinos, placing oversight in the hands of the Department of Revenue, and giving the Seminoles exclusive rights of slot machines outside of Broward and Miami-Dade counties.

Galvano told the Tampa Tribune, “It was a difficult lift to get the House to agree to the games in Broward and more difficult to get them to agree to Hillsborough. I don’t see that difficulty being lessened by adding three more facilities.”

According to the Herald, Galvano and Senate President Jeff Atwater, R-North Palm Beach, in negotiations with the tribe last week, offered the tribe monopoly status within 100 miles of its casinos and card games at the tribe’s Immokalee casino in exchange for casino games in Palm Beach County, Jacksonville and North Florida, subject to legislative or voter approval.

In a statement, House Speaker Larry Cretul, R-Ocala, said: “We appreciate the hard work all parties have invested in efforts to reach an agreement that puts the public interest first. The public, House members, and staff will now have an opportunity to review the proposed agreement, signed by the Tribe and Gov. Crist, and to recommend a future course of action.”

Atwater said in a statement, “This is a complex issue and I applaud the diligent effort put forth by the governor’s office and Seminole Tribe.”

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