Business Leaders Praise Seminole Compact in New TV Ad

The leadership of the business community stepped up on Monday to go to bat for the Seminole Gaming Compact while urging Florida to limit expanded casino operations in the Sunshine State.

The Seminole Tribe of Florida released a new TV ad on Monday featuring Mark Wilson, the president and CEO of the Florida Chamber of Commerce, and Carol Dover, the president and CEO of the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association, calling to support extending the compact which is up in July.

Florida is changing, which is why we need to extend the compact and limit gambling, Wilson said. Changing it could lead to the expansion of gambling, which simply is unacceptable for a state that has worked hard to grow its economy and develop a family-friendly image.

Since the Seminole Compact went into effect, it has generated more than $1 billion in state revenue for education, health care and veterans services, said Dover. We cannot afford to lose these vital dollars.

The Seminole Tribe noted on Monday that extending the compact will create more than 15,000 jobs, saves 3,000 current jobs and brings the state $260 million in annual revenue.