Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

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 […]

Gary FineoutMay 13, 2016

The Seminole Tribe of Florida, owner of Florida’s largest casinos, is trying to get a federal judge to block the publication of information related to a trial that could upend their businesses and to seal a key deposition until it can be redacted. Tribal attorneys this week filed an emergency motion seeking to seal a […]

Jim RosicaMarch 23, 2016

With a proposed $3 billion gambling deal with the Seminole Tribe of Florida having died this past legislative session, the tribe’s lawyer on Tuesday said its fight to keep blackjack in tribal casinos now moves to a federal court. Barry Richard, a Greenberg Traurig shareholder based in Tallahassee, is representing the tribe in a case against […]

Drew WilsonMarch 11, 2016

The United Florida Horsemen said they were “relieved” the 2016 Legislative Session ended without lawmakers’ approval of decoupling for Florida pari-mutuels. “Even though decoupling as part of the Seminole Gaming Compact legislation was declared ‘dead’ last Friday, March 4, a hostile decoupling amendment had been quietly filed the same day to HB 1187 and later […]

Associated PressMarch 9, 2016

A crucial trial over the future of gambling in Florida could be pushed back until the fall. Attorneys for both the Seminole Tribe of Florida and the state on Wednesday asked a federal judge to push back a two-week trial until October. The trial now scheduled for July will determine whether or not the Seminoles […]

Tag: Seminole Compact
Golf ball and golf club in bag on green grass

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

Seminole Tribe trying to stop publication of financial info

Seminole Tribe’s lawyer now watching court cases after Compact’s demise

United Florida Horsemen “relieved” Session ends without decoupling

Crucial federal trial over gambling could be pushed back