On July 10th, 2008, the battle to decide at what gaming establishments blackjack and other casino card games will be offered in the state of Florida continued with a federal judge giving permission to the Seminole Tribe to continue their card game operations.
The whole problem started by the decision of the Florida state Supreme Court that the gaming compact between the Seminole Tribe and Governor Crist is invalid because Governor Crist did not consult the legislature before deciding on the gaming compact. But the Federal Government had already given their approval on the gaming compact and put it in the federal register and the Seminole Tribe does not recognize any Florida authority on their land.
The Pompano Park, which is harness racing track and slot casino owned and managed by the Isle of Capri is the one who have filed the lawsuit before U.S. District Federal Judge Stephan McKie in order to prevent the Seminole Tribe from continuing their operation because it is unfair to the other racing tracks in the area.
As the existing federal law does not allow Indian tribe to be sued, the move to halt the blackjack and other card games at the Seminole Hard Rock Casino is at a deadlock, while payments to the state have been stopped. The tribe said that they will follow any decisions of the Department of the Interior.
Monday, August 04 , 2008
Tim Arnell