Florida lawmakers agree to deal with Seminole Indians

The Seminole Indians and the state of Florida have been at odds for some time now over increasing the gaming options at the Seminole casinos. Last Friday the two finally came to a deal that was accepted by all parties involved.

Bill Galvano a representative of the state has been the lead negotiator in the deal and at one point it looked as though the issue would move to the federal level. When lawmakers came back this year they were more knowledgeable on the issue and that has helped them come to an agreement.

The terms of the agreement generally are that the Seminoles will get exclusive rights to blackjack at their Seminole Hard Rock and Coconut Creek casinos they would also be getting exclusive rights to the game in Tampa and Immokalee. Giving the trip exclusive rights was the major argument in the past.

In exchange for the game of blackjack and being able to operate Vegas style slot machines the Seminoles will have to pay the state for the next twenty years. The deal is worth a total of $1.5 billion dollars. More information on the deal is expected to be released in the coming days.

2010-04-08