Seminoles Waiting for Slot Machines

The Seminole Tribe of Florida is still fighting with the state to bring in Class III slot machines to their gambling locations. They had been attempting to sign a slot machine compact with ex-Governor Jeb Bush, but Bush had refused to sign the compact stating that there were issues with the Everglades that had to be handled before he would sign the compact.

The tribe said that the governor was simply stalling and not allowing them their federal right to own the slot machines. They currently own and operate Class II slot machines, which are really just bingo machines. Once Broward County decided to legalize Class III Vegas style slot machines, they gained the right to have them as well.

The tribe filed papers in Tallahassee asking a federal judge to force the U.S. Department of Interior to issue regulations that would allow them to have the Class III slot machines on their properties. The Department of Interior had set a November 2006 deadline by which the governor was supposed to either sign a slot machine compact with the tribe, or they were going to step in and allow the slot machines to be brought onto their properties.


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