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Florida Announces Casino Gambling Agreement
TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA --
The two houses of the Florida legislature reached a compromise on expanding casino gambling just before the deadline to end the session. The new plan allows Seminole casinos in Broward and Tampa to keep blackjack, while lowering slot taxes on racinos and taking the buy-in limit off poker.
The state Senate had favored a far more ambitious plan, giving the Seminoles blackjack at all six tribal casinos and adding roulette and craps, while bringing blackjack to racinos. The original House plan had actually contracted gaming, removing blackjack from legal gambling.
Blackjack, baccarat, and other card games will be permitted at the tribe's two Hard Rock casinos, in Tampa and Hollywood, as well as at the Seminole Coconut Creek Casino in north Broward County.
Governor Charlie Crist had worked a similar deal with the Seminoles, only to have the state Supreme Court say he didn't have authority to sign a deal without legislative approval. But Crist said the new arrangement reached his expectations.
"I couldn't be more pleased, I really couldn't," said the Florida governor. "This is a victory for the children of Florida and for education."
The deal still needs to be ratified by the Seminole council. Tribal leaders were non-committal about the new proposal, which would ask them to pay $150 million a year, plus a cut on profits, for the rights to the table games.
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