Casinos in Miami & Palm Beach

[finehoe]

After months of negotiations, Gov. Rick Scott quietly signed a compact with the Seminole Tribe late Monday that will generate nearly $3 billion in added revenue to the state over seven years in exchange for the exclusive right to operate blackjack and add craps and roulette.

The 20-year deal also allows the Legislature to open the door for parimutuels to operate new slots casinos in Miami-Dade and Palm Beach counties and allows the existing South Florida racinos to seek voter approval to operate limited blackjack tables.

"With a $3 billion guarantee [over the first seven years] along with a cap on the tribe's gaming, it is my hope that this compact can be the foundation of a stable and predictable gaming environment for the state of Florida," Scott wrote in a letter to House Speaker Steve Crisafulli and Senate President Andy Gardiner on Monday. "My execution of this compact is the first step in the process outlined in law, and I look forward to continuing to work with you and your respective chambers this session in order to ratify this $3 billion historic agreement."

The agreement must now win approval from the House and Senate, which are required to ratify the deal. The lead negotiator for the Senate said Monday he was optimistic.

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/news/politics-government/state-politics/article48541885.html#storylink=cpy

[acme54321]

I don't get the whole Seminole Casino deal.  Either make gambling legal, or don't.

[spuwho]

This makes sense as there are significant business interests that would like to see a casino near the new Miami Central train station on the beach. The recent purchase of the old Miami newspaper print building anticipated this decision.

[Tacachale]

I don't get the whole Seminole Casino deal.  Either make gambling legal, or don't.

The compact is between the state government and the Seminole Tribe of Florida. Gambling is legal in Florida, but regulated, and part of those regulations is that gaming is restricted to certain venues, including Seminole-owned casinos. Periodically the two sides come together to negotiate mutually agreeable changes. This is apparently one of them.

[JaxJersey-licious]

I don't get the whole Seminole Casino deal.  Either make gambling legal, or don't.

The compact is between the state government and the Seminole Tribe of Florida. Gambling is legal in Florida, but regulated, and part of those regulations is that gaming is restricted to certain venues, including Seminole-owned casinos. Periodically the two sides come together to negotiate mutually agreeable changes. This is apparently one of them.

I generally agree that all gambling including team sports betting should be totally legal, but since Florida has to negotiate with Native American tribes concerning gaming venues, this deal looks like a wasted opportunity. They should have made a deal like New York states where they have several Native American-run casinos that were normally slots-poker centric allowed to become full-fledged casinos with table games in exchange of the state granting licenses for other areas not directly served by the already existing tribal gaming venues to set up shop. Would have been a great opportunity for North Florida since they aren't close to any of the Seminole casinos. The bidding for these prized slots often include the developers paying for the vast amount of the infrastructure to establish their casinos.  It could have been a win-win for a lot of struggling North Florida communities

And if you're against the crowds, sprwling developments, possible crime, affect on the quality of life, or just against the expansion of gambling caused by these new licenses being issued then we'll have to agree to disagree but there are more than a few areas there that would pounce at an opportunity like this.