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Last week Larry Cretul the House Speaker asked the federal agency that regulates Indian Gambling to force the Seminole Tribe to shut down their offerings of blackjack and other card games. Cretul wants the games shut down at the Immokalee casino until the state finishes their compact with the tribe. Cretul sent a letter to the National Indian Gaming Commission which stated that even though there is a lack of a gambling contract the tribe continues to offer blackjack and other card games in their casinos even though the games are illegal according to state law. The federal agency has it within their power to levy fines up to $25,000 per infraction for violating the federal gambling laws. The casinos can also be shut down if they are in violation. Cretul says it is now time for the commission to exercise their power.
Cretul wrote in a letter to the acting chairman George Skibine which stated: “You also have the authority on behalf of the NIGC to issue orders of temporary closure of gaming activities for substantial violations of the provisions of IGRA, of regulations prescribed by the Commission pursuant to IGRA, or of tribal regulations, ordinances or resolutions. It is our hope that the NIGC exercises this authority to bring the Tribe into compliance with federal law.”
The Seminole Tribe released a statement saying “contrary to the letter from Speaker Cretul, the Florida Supreme Court did not invalidate the 2007 Compact, which received federal approval in January 2008. ...The Tribe’s gaming facilities continue to operate in full compliance with the 2007 Compact.”
2009-10-30
