Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Drew WilsonDecember 8, 2015

The day after Gov. Rick Scott announced a new gaming compact deal with the Seminole Tribe, No Casinos head John Sowinski doubled down on his group’s opposition to gambling expansion of any kind. The Seminole Gaming Compact, originally brokered by Gov. Charlie Crist, gave the tribe exclusive rights to banked card games, such as blackjack, in exchange for payments […]

Associated PressDecember 8, 2015

Want a sure bet? The gambling agreement between Gov. Rick Scott and the Seminole Tribe is going to face changes during the next three months – if it’s approved at all. The deal signed Tuesday calls for a guaranteed $3 billion over seven years for Florida in exchange for the state agreeing to limit the […]

Peter SchorschDecember 8, 2015

“They do this at 8 o’clock at night?” That was the first thing an exasperated Jim Rosica, one of our state Capitol reporters, said to me once I got him on the telephone after news of Gov. Rick Scott reaching a deal with the Seminole Tribe of Florida hit the Twitterverse. Rosica and the rest of the […]

Phil AmmannDecember 7, 2015

Gov. Rick Scott has finally struck a deal with the Seminole Tribe of Florida to allow it to continue offering blackjack at seven of its casinos in return for a $3 billion cut of the take over seven years. Rather than an ending to months of negotiation, though, it’s just the beginning of what could […]

Ryan RayDecember 2, 2015

The state Revenue Estimating Conference, a panel of economists gathered to discuss revenue levels expected to flow into state coffers from gaming proceeds Wednesday afternoon, including from the banked card games and Las Vegas-style slots the Seminole Tribe of Florida operate under an exclusive compact with the state.. The consensus, now that the deal has […]

Associated PressDecember 1, 2015

The Florida Supreme Court is taking up a long-running legal dispute that could result in slot machines being added at dog and horse tracks across the state. The 1st District Court of Appeal in early October ruled that slot machines couldn’t be installed at a facility west of Tallahassee. But the decision was unusual because […]

Peter SchorschNovember 26, 2015

corbellaWith all the talk of beleaguered immigrants seeking refuge in America, the true meaning of Thanksgiving is all too poignant this year. We’ve all seen the words “turkey” and “lobbyist” in the same sentence before. But, more than likely, this referred to the role of special interests in securing political pork for clients. Indeed, Florida’s […]

Jim RosicaNovember 20, 2015

Manufacturers of cards and chips who sell to the Seminole Tribe of Florida may be spared, at least in civil court, in any legal throwdown over blackjack at the Seminole Tribe of Florida‘s casinos. The Tribe is still offering blackjack despite the expiration of a special deal with the state that allows it to offer […]

Jim RosicaNovember 20, 2015

Legislation is moving in the Legislature that would allow people to buy their lottery tickets at the gas pump despite a lingering question that the measure is an expansion of gambling. The question is more than moral or academic: Expanded gambling is a condition for the Seminole Tribe of Florida to stop sharing revenue from its […]

Jim RosicaNovember 19, 2015

A prominent gambling-law expert is suggesting that the state has other pressure points to apply to the Seminole Tribe of Florida in an ongoing fight over offering blackjack at its casinos, including going after it with organized crime laws. Prof. I. Nelson Rose of California’s Whittier Law School said he first offered that advice to the Senate […]

Tag: Seminole Tribe of Florida

Seminole Compact should limit, not expand gambling

Gambling deal with Seminole Tribe still has long way to go

Give credit to … for breaking the news about the Seminole Compact deal

Gov. Rick Scott signs new $3 billion Seminole Compact

Forecast uncertain for gaming revenue as Seminole compact still unresolved

Florida Supreme Court agrees to take up slot machine dispute

Thanksgiving, as brought to you by these lobbyists and political associations

Card, chip makers may be safe in fight over Indian blackjack

Is it “expanding gambling” to sell lottery tickets at gas pumps?

Gambling expert says Seminoles may run afoul of organized crime laws