Florida files federal lawsuit to shut down Seminoles’ blackjack tables

Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Opens In South Florida

The state is demanding the Seminole Tribe of Florida immediately shut down blackjack tables at its casinos across the state, reports the Sun-Sentinel.

The state late Friday announced it is filing a lawsuit in a Tampa federal court asking a judge to order the tribe to cease operations. Florida does not have legal jurisdiction over tribal reservations.

The Seminoles were supposed to remove the blackjack tables this week. But the tribe filed a lawsuit seeking to keep blackjack and other banked card games in place.

A five-year deal authorizing blackjack at casinos such as the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino locations in Tampa and Hollywood expired this past summer. The tribe was given a 90-day grace period to remove them.

Peter Schorsch

Peter Schorsch is the President of Extensive Enterprises and is the publisher of some of Florida’s most influential new media websites, including Florida Politics and Sunburn, the morning read of what’s hot in Florida politics. Schorsch is also the publisher of INFLUENCE Magazine. For several years, Peter's blog was ranked by the Washington Post as the best state-based blog in Florida. In addition to his publishing efforts, Peter is a political consultant to several of the state’s largest governmental affairs and public relations firms. Peter lives in St. Petersburg with his wife, Michelle, and their daughter, Ella.



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