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Charlie Crist the Governor of Florida has stated that there is still hope that a gambling deal between the Seminole Tribe and the state, even though legislators have asked for the tribes to be shut down. We reported last week that Larry Cretul said that both sides had reached an ‘impasse’ and he had asked the National Indian Gaming Commission to shut down the gambling operations of the tribe. Crist commented on Cretul’s remarks stating: ``To me, it seems so obviously the right thing to do.” Crist says that that the tribe would contribute $150 million a year to education as well as create 40,000 jobs in exchange for exclusive rights to blackjack and other table games at their casinos.
Crist commented that Cretul asking for the shutdown of the casinos would most likely not happen. He commented: “I don’t think that’s going to happen. People can ask for things all the time. Even I ask for things.”
Crist recently visited the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the United South & Eastern Tribes. This is a nonprofit, inter-tribal organization. Speakers at the event called Crist an honorable man and a friend of the tribe and he was greeted with three standing ovations.
After the event, Crist spent some time talking with Jim Shore the tribe’s general counsel, in private. After the conversation Shore commented that Crist was in charge and the tribe is leaving it up to him.
2009-10-30
