Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jim RosicaNovember 22, 2016

Answering a $3 billion question, Senate President Joe Negron Tuesday said he backed passage next session of a renewed gambling agreement with the Seminole Tribe of Florida. But Negron also said he was comfortable with related initiatives gambling opponents have said constitute an expansion of gambling in the Sunshine State. For instance, regarding counties that […]

Jim RosicaNovember 21, 2016

Florida House Speaker-designate Richard Corcoran Monday said lawmakers again will consider a gambling agreement with the Seminole Tribe of Florida. A federal judge earlier this month ruled the tribe can continue to offer blackjack and other “banked card games” to its Hard Rock Casino customers across the state, including the Tampa location. The tribe sued the […]

Jim RosicaNovember 9, 2016

A federal judge on Wednesday ruled the Seminole Tribe of Florida can continue to offer blackjack and other “banked card games” to its Hard Rock Casino customers in the state. In a 36-page opinion, Senior U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle said the state had broken an exclusivity deal with the tribe, part of what’s called the […]

Jim RosicaNovember 1, 2016

A month after ousting their last leader, the Seminole Tribe of Florida on Tuesday announced it has selected Marcellus W. Osceola Jr. as its new chairman. He replaces James E. Billie. The tribe’s governing council removed Billie last month, citing disagreements over “policies and procedures.” Osceola’s selection was Monday. Billie actually ran for his job again, coming in second […]

Jim RosicaOctober 5, 2016

A federal judge shellacked an attorney for the state of Florida during closing arguments Friday in a trial over whether the Seminole Tribe gets to continue offering blackjack to its casino customers. U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle peppered the state’s counsel with questions about whether gambling regulators basically allowed the state’s non-tribal cardrooms to offer games that broke the exclusive […]

Associated PressOctober 5, 2016

A crucial federal trial that could shape of the future of gambling in Florida is wrapping up. Attorneys for the Seminole Tribe of Florida and the state will give their closing arguments Wednesday. The second day of trial on Tuesday revolved primarily around the testimony of top gambling regulators. The trial could decide whether the tribe can […]

Jim RosicaOctober 3, 2016

The head of the Seminole Tribe of Florida’s gambling operations Monday testified the Florida House’s Republican Leader disengaged in 2015 during blackjack renewal talks. The next thing Jim Allen knew, state Rep. Dana Young of Tampa was announcing her own legislative package, an overhaul of state gambling law that cut out the tribe. Based on […]

Jim RosicaOctober 3, 2016

Questions of “good faith” were the nub of the first day of trial between the state and the Seminole Tribe over its ability to keep offering blackjack to casino customers across Florida. Lawyers for both sides Monday focused on the elemental question of who was right and who was wrong in the beginning of this […]

Jim RosicaSeptember 29, 2016

With less than a week before a trial over their blackjack games begins, the Seminole Tribe of Florida has removed James E. Billie as tribal chairman. Billie was ousted Wednesday in a 4-0 vote of the tribe’s governing council, Law 360 reported, citing “various issues with policies and procedures of the chairman’s office.” Gary Bitner, spokesman for […]

Jim RosicaJune 7, 2016

The state of Florida and its Seminole Tribe each have filed motions for summary judgment in an ongoing gambling dispute. Both are locked in a federal-court dispute over whether the Seminoles’ casinos can continue to have blackjack tables, including casinos located in Tampa and in South Florida. The separate motions were filed last week. Granting such motions allows parties […]

Tag: blackjack
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Joe Negron will support new Seminole Compact next session

Seminole Compact still in play, Richard Corcoran says

Happy day at Hard Rock: Seminoles get to keep blackjack

In precarious position, Seminole Tribe picks new leader

Blackjack trial comes to close as judge questions state’s case

Trial over Seminole casinos to wrap up

Dana Young backed out of blackjack talks, Seminole Gaming CEO says

‘Good faith’ at issue in Seminole Tribe blackjack trial

James E. Billie ousted as head of state’s Seminole Tribe

State and tribe seek end to Indian gambling lawsuit