Calling All Parimutuels: Anyone Want to Sue Florida?

A legal challenge to Florida's Seminole gaming compact may have crapped out.

The Andrew Jackson Institute, an anti-Indian-casino group that vowed to sue over the tribal agreement with the state, announced it was backing off.

The group informed Sunshine State News:

"Our attorney advised us that although the suit challenging the blackjack portion of the compact has merit -- and the compact is structured in such a way that if any provision is voided it is all voided --the institute faces a standing issue.

"According to our attorney only a parimutuel facility in competition with the Seminoles would have standing to bring suit challenging the constitutionality of the legislature allowing the Seminoles to operate a game prohibited by state law for anyone else.

"In view of the fact that no parimutuel facility is currently willing to be the plaintiff in such a suit, the Andrew Jackson Institute is suspending its legal action. We continue to be confident that allowing blackjack for Indian casinos but not non-Indians violates the equal protection and commerce clauses of the Constitution.

"There is also no doubt that continuing to run blackjack and (Las Vegas-style) slot machinesafter the Seminole compact was voided by the Florida Supreme Court constituted a violation of both federal and state law. Criminal activity like this should not be rewarded by the state of Florida."