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Politics

House Gaming Committee Wants In-Depth Seminole Revenue Numbers

March 4, 2013 - 6:00pm

With the deadline a little over two years away on a key provision of the states multimillion-dollar gambling compact, some lawmakers would like to see firm casino revenue numbers from the Seminole Tribe of Florida.

Members of the House Select Committee on Gaming asked the tribes attorney on Monday if the annual fiscal data, of which only select numbers are released to the public, could be made available before a decision is needed to renew, renegotiate or abandon the Seminoles exclusive rights on banked card games.

Im not questioning the veracity of it, we know its somewhere around $2 billion, but once we know we can start planning, said Rep. Jim Waldman, D-Coconut Creek.

Barry Richard, an attorney for the tribe, said he would make the request but couldnt guarantee the numbers would be made available.

The confidential provision exists because [of] the fact that the tribe, as anybody in any business, has trade secrets, Richard said.

The tribe does submit revenue and expenditure audits to the state Department of Business and Professional Regulation, but the numbers remain confidential outside the executive branch.

With the Senate and House moving forward with a study of the states gambling industry, including the potential impact of allowing mega-casinos to open in South Florida, no action is expected from the Legislature on gambling until 2014, other than a possible moratorium on Internet cafes.

The compact was signed in 2010 and is good through July 31, 2030. It includes a provision that the Seminoles have exclusive rights on banked card games such as baccarat and blackjack at five locations, with that provision expiring July 31, 2015.

In return, the Seminoles pay the state a minimum of $233 million a year out of the revenue.

Exceptions to the exclusivity include poker licensed card rooms and slot machines at existing pari-mutuel facilities in Miami-Dade and Broward counties.

The state has generated $726 million through the compact with the tribe, which has seen its employment in Florida grow 52 percent since 2008, in large part because of expansion of card games, Richard said.

Michelle Morton, the committees acting staff director, said the Legislatures options with the Seminoles on the provision will be to renegotiate the deal, simply renew the provision, expand the card game option to others or take no action.

If lawmakers decide not to take any action, the Seminoles would have 90 days to halt its banked card operations, Morton said.

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