Seminole History Part II of II
Since the passing of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, the tribe has
made $22.6 billion just in 2005 alone. The other tribe, the Miccosukee
Tribe of Indians, has benefited as well from it. The two tribes have
put Florida on the list of the highest grossing states from Indian
gaming, and they are located at number six. More than 90% of their
budget for their tribe comes from slot machines and gambling. They
have seven casinos now, including the one in Hollywood.
The tribes took the first step towards gambling, and now all of the
tribes had the same rights and privileges because of their battle.
Now, the Seminoles are planning on going international with the
purchase of Hard Rock International. They purchased the company from a
UK based group called The Rank Group, PLC. The purchase was finalized
on March 5th, and they paid $965 million for it.
They are the first American Indian tribe to buy an international
company such as this, which just puts them at the forefront again.
Other tribes have already asked the tribe for the ability to use the
name at their casinos, which of course just means more revenue for the
Seminoles. Because the tribes do not pay corporate tax on tribal
revenue, they receive more money back from gamblers than traditional
casinos do.
The tribe has plenty of uses for that revenue, however. They have
schools, and housing, and a government – all to be run from their
gambling money. The reservation, all 35,000 acres of it, looks like
any small town in America. There is a school, a gymnasium and a
government building. But then you look a little closer and you see the
tent filled with slot machines, and you know that this is not small
town America. The money from those slot machines goes to the
aforementioned, as well as health services for their tribal members,
housing, public safety, etc.
The tribe still fights prejudice against them, and still have to worry
about crimes committed against them for who they are. However, they
also know that there will come a day when they can all get along, and
if not, at the very least, they will be able to put their homes in
gated communities to keep them and their children safe.
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