Charlie Crist signs Blackjack into existence in Florida

Governor Charlie Crist signed an agreement allowing the Seminole Tribe of Florida's seven casinos to offer blackjack card games. In return the tribe will pay the state of Florida over $6 billion throughout a period of 20 years. Governor Crist announced today in a press release that on top of the $150 million a year the state will also be receiving a share of the profits from the games.

This is not, however, the first agreement of this type between Governor Crist and the Seminole Tribe. An agreement made in 2007 between the tribe and Crist, also allowing the tribe to offer blackjack games and the state receiving $150 million, was rejected by the Florida state Supreme Court due to the fact that is was not approved by the Legislature.

In addition to allowing the Seminole Tribe the exclusive rights to offer blackjack games, this new agreement will allow high-stakes poker games to be offered by Florida's dog and horse-racing tracks and their jai-alai frontons. The new agreement will also lower the taxes these establishments pay on slot machine revenue as compensation for not having the right to offer blackjack games.

It is important to note that this agreement, which is solely for the rights to blackjack and does not include roulette or craps, does still need to be passed by the Legislature.

2009-09-03