Poker Superstars
Phil Hellmuth
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New Florida Law Expands Gambling; State Fights |
January 5, 2008
Earlier last week the Florida Department of Interior signed a deal between Governor Charlie Crist and the Seminole Nation which would allow a 25-year expansion of the legalized gambling in Florida. Already they're seeing backlash.
The deal, put into ink on November 14th, effectively widened the area the Seminoles are allowed to sponsor gambling. The deal also cut Florida government in on a percentage of the proceeds. This would allow widespread Florida state gambling in a much larger spread of the state than was previously allowed, meanwhile bringing taxable revenue.
Two days after the deal was signed, a lawsuit was filed, headed up by Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum. The suit intends to disband the agreement until a hearing on its constitutionality is convened. The compact was put together and signed without state legislative approval, which is the main reason there's such an uproar: clearly it's a 'you stepped on my turf' kind of response, and one we're probably not all too surprised by.
The lawsuit was filed on December 28 and intends to block the announcement of the agreement in the Federal Register, which would be the final icing on the cake. A hearing in the Florida Supreme Court is set for January 30th.
If the announcement via Federal Register is not blocked, the agreement will by underway and the first $50 million payment will be made by the Seminoles to the state. (NO! We don't want money!) A second payment of another $50 million would be due before the year's end. Under the compact's terms, Florida is also guaranteed to receive $125 million n 2009 and $150 million in 2010. Future payment would be variable dependent on the amount of revenues of the casinos.
This new development seems another ridiculous hitch in a system riddled with red tape and errors. Every day, it seems, something more and more twisted gets thrown into the works of what could be a simple and vast source of revenue for government programs, who should have better things to deal with. But alas, the tide rolls on. |
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