Lawmakers Thursday came closer to approving a deal that that would give the Seminole Tribe of Florida exclusive rights to blackjack and other Vegas-style card games at five casinos.
The Senate and House discussed but did not reach a final vote on the 20-year compact that would bring the state at least $1 billion in its first five years. The House Select Committee on Seminole Indian Compact Review moved the bill to its next stage in the morning, while the Senate concluded a second reading on the chamber floor.
The deal gives the tribe the right to blackjack, chemin de fer and baccarat for five years at five casinos in Tampa, Broward County and Immokalee, with the possibility for renewal after the five-year term expires.
The deal also allows all of the states Seminole casinos to continue use of Class III slot machines for 20 years.
The deal includes benefits for some pari-mutuels -- dog and horse tracks and jai alai frontons.
It allows for pari-mutuels to have 350 video bingo or historic racing machines at their facilities. A Senate bill by Dennis Jones, R-Orlando, also requires that the Legislature authorize longer cardroom hours at pari-mutuels and allows them to switch from weekly to monthly license taxes.
The bill would lower taxes from 50 percent to 35 percent on slot machines and lower the licensing fees for slot machines from $3.5 million to $2.5 million.
Still, the compact could imperil state pari-mutuels outside of South Florida, which have not passed a referendum to host slots.
Sen. John Thrasher, R-Jacksonville, said he wanted to know if the bill would have a negative impact on the 600 pari-mutuel employees in his district.
Obviously, they do not have everything they would like to have, said Jones, key negotiator of the compact for the Senate.
But the bill does give the pari-mutuels benefits theyve been demanding since Gov. Charlie Crist began negotiations in 2007.
I hope it keeps all the 26,000 employees in the pari-mutuel industry today keeping their jobs, Jones said.
The compact would inject $437.5 million into the state budget this year -- something the Senate has banked its proposed $69.5 billion budget on. It needs to be ratified by the Legislature and signed by the governor.
Contact Alex Tiegen at atiegen@sunshinestatenews.com or (561) 329-5389.
