Florida lawmakers are expected to unveil their plans Tuesday for dealing with gambling in Florida. Gov. Rick Scott has hammered out an agreement with the Seminole Indian Tribe, but legislative leaders say the plan will likely need to change to garner approval.
Gaming has historically been an unpopular subject for Senate President Andy Gardiner. He told journalists early in the year he’s not likely to support an expansion.
“I don’t support the expansion of gaming, but I do support the institution of the Senate to make that decision as to what direction they want to go,” Gardiner says.
The proposed Seminole compact is by many accounts an expansion. While it would bring billions of dollars of revenue into state coffers, it would also let the tribe add new gaming to its offerings –allowing the continuation of blackjack and approving new games like craps and roulette. But Gov. Rick Scott reminds leaders money isn’t all that’s linked to those games.
“This compact that I know the Seminoles and my office worked hard to make sure it happened will have a positive impact on job growth. My understanding is if it’s not renewed then it would impact about 3,500 jobs—3,600 jobs and if it is approved by the legislature it would add about 4,800 direct and indirect permanent jobs about 14,500 construction jobs,” Scott says.
Scott heard from Seminole gaming employees last week who say they’re likely to face serious hardship if the legislature does not approved the proposed compact. Olivia Davis is the administrative assistant for the table games department for the Hollywood Hard Rock division.
“I’m a single mother of three and because of the tribe and the promotions that they have made, because one thing about the Seminole Tribe is they promote from within. I started at the bottom and now I’ve been in the Table Games department for five years. And if the compact isn’t signed then it does affect me tremendously because I would be out of a job,” Davis says.
The state’s agreement with the tribe that allows tribe casinos to conduct table games like blackjack has expired. And if the new agreement isn’t approved, some say that could mean the tribe will have to close its tables.
But in the House, Speaker Steve Crisafulli says if the compact is going to get approval this legislative session, changes will likely be needed.
“I think there needs to be some changes to it to get it thought the process. Obviously not just the compact itself, but the other components in regard to pari-mutuels and decoupling and those things. Those are big issues that are important to these members and you know everybody has a region to represent and they’re getting pressured on those things from back home as well,” Crisafulli says.
And Senate President Andy Gardiner echoed that sentiment during a discussion with a group of reporters, saying it’s not typically what’s in the compact that raises concerns, but the other activities that tend to come along with the compact—like agreements that pave the way for some pari-mutuels to operate slot machines.
Meanwhile Crisafulli told reporters during a later conversation, while gambling overhaul proposals have died in the past few years, the timing this session could be on the Seminole’s side.
“Every year there’s a little bit of a different issue that comes about with it. Timing is important right now with the compact it’s obviously important with a timing perspective for the tribe. And we’re conscious of that,” Crisafulli says.
But Crisafulli says a difficult roadblock remains. That’s finding legislation that can get support from members in the House as well as the Senate. Both chambers are expected to discuss the details of their gaming plans Tuesday.
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